Martyn’s Law moves a step closer to statute book

Proposed legislation which aims to help prevent and reduce the harm of terror attacks at event venues has moved a step closer to becoming law, almost eight years after the Manchester Arena attack.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, known as Martyn’s Law, will now be sent for royal assent after MPs supported amendments put forward by the House of Lords.

The Bill will compel all UK venues that expect 200 or more people to be on site to prepare for the event of a terror attack, such as establishing evacuation plans.

Larger premises expected to host 800 people or more would also have to take steps to reduce their vulnerability to an assault.

Figen Murray campaigned for the law change after her 29-year-old son Martyn Hett was killed, with 21 other people, in the Manchester Arena bombing at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017.

The atrocity also left more than a thousand people injured.

Home Office minister Dan Jarvis accepted all of the amendments tabled by peers in the upper chamber and said they would provide “further safeguards”.

Mr Jarvis paid tribute to Ms Murray, who watched on from the Commons’ public gallery. He said: “Her campaign has been nothing short of extraordinary.

“To have lost her son, Martyn Hett in the Manchester Arena attack in May of 2017, and to have yet still found the strength to drive this campaign forward is both inspiring and phenomenal.

“And I know that all members right across this House will join me in paying tribute to Figen. Figen had previously said, it’s time to get this done, and I am very proud to say that this Government has done just that.”