Martyn’s Law: An update for the security industry
Legislation for tightened security protocols is expected to have a major impact on the demand for security professionals. Reliable software tools can give businesses the power to stay prepared for increased governmental standards and regulations.
Walking for change
Figen Murray, the mother of Manchester Arena attack victim Martyn Hett, recently completed a 200-mile protest walk to spread awareness for a law that could initiate mandatory security tightening to prevent acts of terrorism at public places and venues in the United Kingdom.
Murray completed the walk to deliver a letter to the then-prime minister to urge Parliament to set a date to introduce Martyn’s Law, legislation designed to improve protective security and organisational preparedness. Martyn’s Law could impose requirements on security companies and related businesses to plan and prepare for terrorist attacks on public premises and events.
Martyn’s Law could have a major impact on the security industry and this legislation is named to honour the memory of the lives that were taken at the bombing while requesting that government officials do everything in their power to stop future acts of terrorism.
Murray sat in the public gallery in the House of Commons during the former Prime Minister’s Questions and met with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who was quoted by BBC News stating, “She’s campaigning for Martyn’s Law, which we must make a reality as soon as possible.”
In July, Martyn’s Law was included in the King’s Speech, in which the new government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, outlined its programme of legislation for the upcoming parliamentary session. In this, the King said legislation would be introduced to improve safety and security of public venues to ‘keep the British public safe from terrorism’. He added: “The “Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill will enact Martyn’s Law.” The Bill will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.
The current proposals for Martyn’s Law include requirements for ‘standard tier’ premises, a classification for spaces with a capacity of 100-799 individuals, and an ‘enhanced tier’ classification for premises and qualifying events with a capacity of 800 individuals or more. Venues will need to undertake the appropriate measures for their tier, such as training, information sharing, and completion of a preparedness plan.
Impacting the security industry
The enactment of Martyn’s Law will have implications for the roles, training and accreditation of of security professionals and other relevant parties responsible for public premises. They will be asked to put in place procedures such as evacuation and lock-ins in the event of an attack. Additionally, a Martyn’s Law regulator will be tasked with monitoring compliance and advising the premises within the scope of the legislation. That regulator will be equipped with tools to address non-compliance, such as investigatory powers and monetary sanctions.
The enhanced training and communication methods likely to be required to meet new levels of compliance will be aimed at preventing response failures such as those found on the night of the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, which took 22 lives. This legislation could also put growing responsibility on the security industry in terms of coverage, and it might raise the bar for security officer experience.
This legislation comes at a time when demand in the security industry in the UK is expected to increase over the next five years. Researchers expect that demand for security officers will increase due to an uptake in crime rates and major national events, including Martyn’s Law, according to an IBIS report.
Integrating solutions to ensure safety
To tackle these potential challenges, security providers can take advantage of physical security software, specifically a solution that integrates different tasks, allowing security officers to get the most out of their resources.
Increased visibility is a valuable tool for monitoring distributed workers who may encounter a threat. By relying on near-field communication (NFC) tags, QR codes, or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, supervisors can monitor the safety of security officers and access a record of where they were located at a given time.
In terms of compliance, proof of service gives security companies hard evidence that their work met governmental and contractual standards. Proof of service information includes processes taken, timelines, and equipment used.
This can aid against liability, as it allows providers to establish that their security officers performed specific duties and responded as expected. Proof of service can also point out on-site areas that need to be improved in terms of minimising risks.
For professionals tasked with the role of hiring more qualified, experienced security officers, hiring software designed for the industry can aid employers in the security industry, which traditionally reports high turnover rates. Employers can use an integrated applicant tracking system that offers tools to generate more applicants and screen for fit. Software tools can also help automate processes to ensure that qualified applicants are found efficiently in regard to saving time and reducing errors in the application process.
Paul Hughes
Head of New Business,
TEAM Software by WorkWave
Further information on Martyn’s Law can be found on the police Protect UK website.
