Venues face fines of up to £18m if they risk repeat of Manchester terror attack

Big music and event venues will face fines of up to £18 million if they fail to introduce measures aimed at preventing a repeat of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack.

Martyn’s Law – named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 victims of the 2017 terror atrocity – will require venues from concert halls for just 200 people to stadiums like Manchester Arena to put in place measures to better protect audiences in the event of an attack.

The move comes after Taylor Swift was forced to cancel three concerts in Vienna after police uncovered a terrorist plot planned by extremists inspired by Islamic State.

UK security sources said “lone wolf” terror attacks remained a live threat that was harder to detect and investigate.

Under the Bill, laid in Parliament on Thursday, bigger venues such as Manchester Arena with capacity for 800 or more people will have to ensure they have the necessary CCTV cameras, security teams, evacuation and lockdown plans.

Smaller venues with capacity for 200 to 799 people will be expected to put in place public protection procedures such as identifying safe routes, locking doors and closing shutters.

A regulator, the Security Industry Authority (SIA), will have powers to fine bigger venues up to £18 million or 5 per cent of their worldwide revenue, whichever is higher, if they fail to implement the appropriate measures.

The Home Office has watered down the plans – originally put forward by the Tories – by raising the threshold of venues covered by the legislation from those with capacity for 100 to 200.

It has also dropped demands for prescribed training and the mandatory completion of risk evaluation forms. The legislation will be less prescriptive about what venues are expected to introduce to allow them to take account of the particular requirements of their own premises.

All the estimated 24,000 bigger venues and 155,000 smaller ones will be required to register with the SIA. The Home Office estimates it will cost bigger stadiums about £5,000 a year to comply, and smaller ones some £330 a year.

Martyn Hett died after suicide bomber Salman Abedi targeted crowds outside an Ariana Grande concert on May 22 2017. More than 1,000 people were injured in the blast.

Figen Murray, Martyn’s mother, has campaigned for the legislation over the past seven years. In May, then prime minister Rishi Sunak promised to bring in the law – hours before calling a general election, meaning it was delayed for months.

Ms Murray said: “Today means we are one step closer to making public spaces safer for everyone. It is also hugely important for my family that Martyn’s Law will be on the statute book ahead of the next anniversary of Martyn’s death.”

Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, said: “Martyn’s Law has been a long time coming. I want to pay tribute to Figen Murray and her campaign team who have tirelessly worked to make this happen.

“This legislation will strengthen public safety, help protect staff and the public from terrorism and ensure we learn the lessons from the terrible Manchester Arena attack and the inquiry that followed. It is important we now take this forward through Parliament in Martyn’s memory and to help keep people safe.”