The campaigning mother of Martyn Hett, who lost his life in the Manchester Arena bombing atrocity, spoke of her pride and renewed determination today after legislation in his memory to protect the public from terrorism moved a step closer. 'Martyn's Law' was confirmed in the Queen's Speech setting out the Government's planned legislative programme.
The draft 'Protect Duty' Bill was one of 38 Bills announced in the package, following long delays to a period of public consultation due to the coronavirus pandemic. Under the proposals, venues would have a legal duty to devise and provide specific security plans for a terror attack.
Private and public owners of venues and sites currently have no obligation to act on free advice given to them from specialist counter-terrorism advisers about threats of a terrorist attack and how to mitigate the risk. The announcement said in the wake of the Arena bombing, the legislation would introduce new requirements for certain public locations and venues to draw up plans to respond to terrorism.
