Big Venues Must Prepare for Terror Threats

GRASSMONSTER SAYS:

Martyn’s Law Now in Force – Big Venues Must Prepare for Terror Threats

The UK government has just handed a clipboard and a serious set of rules to every large venue in the country. As of April 3rd, the long-awaited Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law, is now officially in force.

Named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, the law does something uncomfortably obvious – it requires places that host large crowds to actually prepare for the possibility of a terror attack.

Until now, it was perfectly legal for a venue of thousands to have no plan in place. No trained staff. No protocol. Just hope.

Now that has changed.

Under the new law, venues that host more than 200 people must have a clear, written plan for handling terrorist threats. Staff must be trained. Risk assessments must be carried out. Emergency protocols must be accessible and updated. Security isn’t optional anymore – it’s law.

The Act distinguishes between “standard tier” and “enhanced tier” venues, based on crowd size. But the message is the same across the board: don’t wait for disaster to knock on your door before deciding whether to unlock the fire exits.

Supporters of Martyn’s Law say it’s common sense. Survivors of the Manchester bombing – and other attacks – have long argued that even a handful of trained staff can save lives. Seconds matter when confusion is chaos and exits are unclear.

Of course, there are groans from the events industry. Small venues worry about costs. Larger ones fear red tape. But these aren’t demands for tanks or airport scanners. They’re about preparedness – not paranoia.

Because the sad truth is this: we live in an age where attacks can come suddenly, from anywhere. A concert. A stadium. A Christmas market.

Martyn’s Law doesn’t assume the worst. It plans for it.

This is about making sure that if – God forbid – the unthinkable happens, the people on the ground are not caught blinking in the dark.

It’s a law written in grief, shaped by courage, and now, finally, enforced with resolve.

@grassmonster

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