The SIA's Executive Director for Martyn's Law Laura Gibb has released a new update on the upcoming law.
Over the last few months, the SIA has been travelling around the country attending events and hearing first hand from stakeholders.
The Authority has been running pilot inspections including at a nightclub, university and a heritage sits.
The SIA has now released a set of tools to help people prepare. This includes a planning tool that will help people work through what procedures they have or will put in place to comply if you are in the standard tier and a template people can use to document compliance when Martyn’s Law comes into force, if you are in the enhanced tier.
For those in the standard tier, the planning tool is designed to help people think through how they will put in place appropriate procedures for evacuation, lockdown and invacuation in the event of a terrorist attack. It will also look at communication procedures between staff and members of the public.
For those in the enhanced tier, the template can be used to document compliance when Martyn’s Law comes into force. It will help those in scope to think through the procedures they need to consider and their effect on reducing harm in the event of a terrorist attack. It will also consider how to assess any vulnerabilities to attack, how to use monitoring, movement of people, physical security, and information security measures to reduce these.
Laura Gibb, Executive Director of Martyn’s Law at the SIA said: "We have talked to many people at events and in premises across the UK and heard their ask for practical tools. They have asked for help for those in scope of Martyn’s Law to work through their thinking, planning and preparation. These new materials are a first step. We will continue to work with those responsible for premises and events in scope to guide and support them in complying.
"We cannot build an effective, workable system without the people and organisations who will be using it. We are encouraging everyone to get involved, help test the tools and templates and help us build something that works for premises and events of every size and type."
Henry Havis, Business Chair for the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) Counter Terrorism Business Information Exchange said: "The Counter Terrorism Business Information Exchange has been delighted to work with the SIA in developing these practical tools. One of the consistent messages from industry has been the need for clear, proportionate and usable guidance that helps organisations translate the requirements of Martyn’s Law into practical action. These tools are an important step forward in doing exactly that.
"For smaller standard tier premises, the planning tool provides a straightforward way to work through the public protection procedures and consider what is appropriate and reasonably practicable for their individual circumstances. For larger and more complex enhanced-tier premises and events, the template provides a welcome framework for documenting procedures, protective measures and the decisions that sit behind them.
"Martyn’s Law is ultimately about protecting people. Use the period before Martyn’s Law comes into force to understand your responsibilities, review existing arrangements, identify gaps, engage your people, and make sure procedures and measures will work in practice, when they are needed. Ultimately, this is about making the places where people work, visit and gather safer."
