Martyn's Law
In December 2022 the Government announced details of 'Martyn's Law' in tribute of Martyn Hett, who was killed alongside 21 others in the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack.
Martyn’s Law will keep people safe, enhancing our national security and reducing the risk to the public from terrorism by the protection of public venues including education and early years settings. The legislation will ensure those responsible for certain locations are prepared, ready to respond and know what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.
Proportionality is a fundamental consideration for Martyn’s Law. Therefore, a tiered model will be established consisting of a ‘standard’ tier and an ‘enhanced’ tier. The Department for Education and the Home Office agree that the existing safety and safeguarding policies in place at most educational settings are sufficient to warrant special consideration. In recognition of these existing measures such sites, including early years settings, will be placed into the standard tier regardless of their occupancy.
The Department for Education is working with the Home Office on the development of legislation to clarify what this will mean for the early years sector. The Home Office factsheet on Martyn’s law gives more information. Expert advice, training and guidance is already available on the online protective security hub, ProtectUK.
If you have any questions of queries relating to the Protect Duty, or would like to be involved in a stakeholder engagement event as the legislation develops, please contact: dfe.protectandprepare@education.gov.uk.
Factsheet on Martyn's Law