Clubs over 200 capacity will require terror safety measures under new UK law

A safety bill in the UK known as Martyn’s Law will require clubs and pubs with a capacity of 200 people or more to take steps to ensure they have a plan in case of a terror attack on their premises.

Venues which are found to have failed to comply with the new law could be fined £10,000, with standard tier venues that can hold over 200 people being expected to notify a regulator and demonstrate the public protection procedures that have been put in place to reduce the risk of physical harm in the event of an attack. Such measures include identifying safe routes and locking doors.

A more enhanced venue tier, for spaces that can hold 800 people or more, will need to put in place further measures, such as using CCTV and hiring specially-trained security staff, in order to comply with the law. Those venues could be fined up to £18m if they fail to comply, though sanctions will likely include initial warnings such as compliance notices for all businesses.

Martyn’s Law, otherwise known as the terrorism (protection of premises) bill, has been put before parliament in the name of Martyn Hett, who was one of 22 people murdered in May 2017’s Manchester Arena suicide bombing. Hett’s mother, Figen Murray, has campaigned for implementation of the law for a number of years, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed to putting it in place as a matter of priority.

Commenting on the implementation of the law, Murray said: “I want to thank everyone who has played a part in getting the bill to this stage, and especially the Prime Minister, who gave me his word that he would act quickly to introduce Martyn’s law. He said he would act quickly and he has.

“Today means we are one step closer to making public spaces safer for everyone. It is also hugely important for my family that Martyn’s law will be on the statute book ahead of the next anniversary of Martyn’s death.”

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “This legislation will strengthen public safety, help protect staff and the public from terrorism and ensure we learn the lessons from the terrible Manchester Arena attack, and the inquiry that followed. It is important we now take this forward through parliament in Martyn’s memory and to help keep people safe.”

The UK Home Office estimates that the new law will apply to 155,000 businesses with a venue capacity of between 200 and 799 people, and will cost those venues an average of £330 a year to implement.

Additionally, the government department believes 24,000 larger venues, with a capacity of 800 and above, could be subject to the law, and those spaces will face average costs of about £5,000 a year in order to comply with it.