Prime minister Keir Starmer has met with the mother of Manchester Arena bombing victim Martyn Hett, as the counter-terrorism bill in her son’s name finally becomes law following a six-year campaign.
Hett died aged 29 in the 2017 terrorism attack at the Manchester venue following an Ariana Grande concert, in which 21 others also lost their lives and many more were injured.
In the years following, Hett’s mother Figen Murray has campaigned for changes in the law which could reduce the chance of a similar atrocity happening again.
Gaining Royal Assent and becoming law on Thursday (3 April), the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill – which is has become known as Martyn’s Law – will require venues that have a capacity of 200 people or more to have a plan set up in case such an attack takes place on their premises.
Larger premises and events in which 800 or more people will be present will be required to take further steps to reduce their vulnerability to acts of terrorism – such as having CCTV, bag search policies or vehicle checks where appropriate.
“A Bill to require persons with control of certain premises or events to take steps to reduce the vulnerability of the premises or event to, and the risk of physical harm to individuals arising from, acts of terrorism,” the legislation’s description reads, “to confer related functions on the Security Industry Authority; to limit the disclosure of information about licensed premises that is likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism; and for connected purposes.”
In a social media post marking the bill coming into force, Starmer’s official account wrote: “Before I became Prime Minister, I promised Figen Murray that I would introduce Martyn’s Law, in memory of her son Martyn and all those who lost their lives the night of the Manchester Arena bombing.
“Today I am proud to deliver on my promise.”
“Figen’s courage in the face of such unimaginable loss is utterly humbling. Thanks to her campaigning, her son’s legacy will live on forever,” the caption for a separate post which features a video of the Labour leader and Murray reads.
“Today is a landmark day for the security of our country – my government has delivered on my promise to introduce Martyn’s Law to better protect the public from terrorism.”
In the video, the two met at 10 Downing Street and looked through a family photo album which featured photographs of Hett, with Starmer telling Murray that the law would not have happened without her campaigning.
“To have turned Martyn’s loss into a law, I hope you feel this is a proper legacy for Martyn.”
“It does feel like that, yes.” Murrary replied, adding it at least gives “Martyn’s death some form of meaning.”
In a statement published on the government website, Starmer said: “Security is the foundation of our Plan for Change and the first duty of any government. Martyn’s Law will ensure everyone can enjoy public events more safely and ensure venues across the country have clear, practical measures in place to protect people.
“Today is a landmark moment for our security as my government delivers on its promise to introduce Martyn’s Law and better protect the public from terrorism.
“Figen’s courage and determination in the face of such unimaginable loss is truly humbling and it is thanks to her campaigning that Martyn’s Law means her son’s legacy will live on forever.”
Home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said the bill will “significantly strengthen public safety” across the UK and extended her thanks to Murrary for her “tireless work to make this law a reality”.
“This government is securing Britain’s future through the Plan for Change and, as the eighth anniversary of the attack approaches, this new law delivers upon the lessons from the Manchester Arena Inquiry to keep people safe,” Cooper said.
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