With the new Protect Duty legislation in place, owners and operators of public venues will legally be required to adequately prepare for, and implement suitable measures, against the threat of terror attacks. We take a closer look at what this legislation covers and what it means for your business.

What is the Protect Duty?

Previously known as Martyn’s Law, the Protect Duty public consultation ran from February – July 2021 in which stakeholders shaped new anti-terrorism legislation to better protect the public. This followed a campaign from the mother of Martyn Hett, who sadly lost his life in the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack.

The key findings of this consultation determined that the people who are responsible for locations that are accessible to the public should be required to take measures to protect the public. This included ensuring that staff are suitably trained, identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities and sharing best practice.

Who does the Protect Duty apply to?

The Protect Duty applies to venues that operate within public spaces, including:

Public venues (for example, entertainment and sports venues, tourist attractions, shopping centres with a capacity of 100 people or more)
Large organisations (for example, retail or entertainment chains employing 250 staff or more that operate at publicly accessible locations)
Public spaces (for example, public parks, beaches, thoroughfares, bridges, town/city squares and pedestrianised areas); this includes event organisers using these spaces.

How the Protect Duty affects your business?

If your business lies within the categories above, you will be required to follow the rules laid out by the legislation to better protect your staff and members of the public against potential terrorist attacks. This includes:

Using information and guidance provided by the Government
Assessing the potential impact of these risks across your business
Taking necessary security measures
Ensuring you have a robust plan in place
Ensuring your staff are sufficiently trained to recognise signs of attack and respond accordingly
Being aware of how to respond to different attack types

How to prepare

There are certain measures you can and should be taking to prepare your business in the event of a terrorist attack as laid out by the Protect Duty legislation. These include:

Being alert to suspicious behaviour and activity across your site
Assessing and mitigating the vulnerabilities of your site
Encouraging and enabling a culture that is mindful of security in the workplace
Making a response plan to an incident on site

How can Edwards Insurance Brokers help?

As part of your response plan, your business will need dedicated Terrorism Insurance, designed to cover damaged property, business interruption and any associated liability claims. To review your existing cover or update your current Business Insurance package, get in touch with our team on 01564 730900.