A Derbyshire manufacturer of security street products says events organisers will now need to put safety at the forefront of their thinking after new laws to protect the public took another step closer.
Mark Stone, managing director of Ashbourne-based Securiscape, said that venue owners and anybody planning a public event should start to get to grips with their new responsibilities now, following the end of a consultation into the Government’s new Protect Duty legislation.
Picture shows: Mark Stone, managing director of Ashbourne-based Securiscape
The legislation, which could be introduced later this year, will ensure that venues and organisers of outdoor events have a legal duty to provide specific security plans for a terror attack.
This could include installing extra hostile vehicle mitigation barriers, carrying out security assessments, specific staff training and clearly setting out roles and responsibilities to ensure accountability.
The consultation, which came to an end last week, was launched following a campaign mounted by Figen Murray, the mother of Martyn Hett, who was one of 22 people killed by suicide bomber Salman Abedi at an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena in 2017.
Previously known as Martyn’s Law, the legislation will change the current situation whereby there is no onus on event organisers to provide anti-terror measures.
Of the 2,755 responses received from a variety of organisations, sectors and campaigners, the majority supported the Government’s proposals to introduce stronger measures, including a legal requirement for some public places to ensure preparedness for and protection from terrorist attacks.
Mr Stone, whose company supplies a range of anti-terror devices including security street-planters, high-security sliding bollards and Securipods, which are temporary barriers which can be installed across roads and public spaces to prevent somebody using a vehicle as a weapon from reaching crowds of people.
He said: “An increasing number of organisers are including anti-terror measures in their plans after having consulted with their local police force but a great many are not.
“The end of the consultation period for Protect Duty and the Government’s determination to pass new laws mean that it is now time that they have to start taking security more seriously.
“This is not about creating a climate of fear or being a killjoy. We work closely with specialist counter-terrorism advisers and the threat of an attack on public events is still very much live, so this will ensure that organisers of events of all sizes protect themselves and their paying public in case the very worst should happen.
“Following the attacks on innocent people that we have seen over the past few years, companies such as ourselves have developed a wide range of affordable and effective defence installations which make sure that staying safe doesn’t cost a fortune.”
Responding to the consultation results, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “My number one priority is keeping the people of the UK safe. Following the tragic attack at the Manchester Arena, we have worked closely with Figen Murray, victims’ groups and partners to develop proposals to improve protective security around the country.
“We will never allow terrorists to restrict our freedoms and way of life, which is why we are committed to bringing forward legislation this year.”
Established 16 years ago, Securiscape has a growing list of IWA-14 and PAS 68-rated street HVM security devices, including high security bollard systems and an ultra-shallow IWA-14-rated pedestrian guardrail that can stop vehicles from mounting the pavement and can even be installed on a bridge.
Its products have been installed in a host of towns and cities across the UK, including Leeds, Birmingham, Nottingham and London, where they have been used to protect the UK headquarters of two international banks and Brent Borough Council’s civic centre in Wembley.
