Venues advised to get ahead on safety as counter-terrorism law develops

Venues across the UK should begin taking "proactive steps" to prepare for new counter-terrorism responsibilities, an events industry body has said.

The Meetings Industry Association claims some 43% of venues, including theatres, concert halls and stadiums, are currently unsure if they are prepared for the introduction of Martyn’s Law.

The association has released practical guidance to help businesses and buildings navigate the changes, which will require some to implement "sophisticated security obligations" including extensive CCTV networks and emergency response plans.

As Martyn’s Law is scrutinised in parliament, the MIA said buildings should already be identifying key vulnerabilities including assisting the physical layout of the venue to establish potential security weaknesses and even consulting with professional experts to evaluate risks such as cyber threats.

The proposed law, officially called the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, is named after Martyn Hett – one of 22 people killed at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in 2017 by suicide bomber Salman Abedi.

As the law has not yet been passed, its specifics remain unclear, but it is currently understood it will take a tiered approach, with venues that can hold more than 200 people under the ’standard’ responsibilities and those that can take more than 800 to enact ’enhanced’ procedures.

Last month, theatre leaders, including Curve chief executive Chris Stafford, told The Stage that despite being committed to doing "everything" to ensure public safety, the resource requirements of the legislation could "put an even greater pressure" on building finances.

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