Figen salutes Martyn’s Law ‘breakthrough’
FIGEN Murray has welcomed a ‘real breakthrough’ in the campaign for ‘Martyn’s Law’ in memory of her son, after Boris Johnson announced that public venues could be ‘compelled’ to ramp up security to combat terror attacks.
In the wake of the London Bridge atrocity, the prime minister announced a Conservative government would ‘require’ venues to assess the threat of a terrorist attack and ‘take steps to prepare as part of their health and safety strategy.’
Mr Johnson said it was ‘no longer sufficient for public venues to prepare for accidental threats like fire.’
The PM said: “They need to reduce their vulnerability to people who seek to perpetrate violent acts too. The nature of threats faced by British citizens has changed in the evolution of modern extremism.
“We must not let the terrorists alter our way of life. In our open and tolerant society, the freedom for citizens to enjoy markets, concerts, gigs and restaurants must continue as before.
“But there are steps we can and will take to make public spaces as secure as possible.”
Martyn Hett was one of the 22 to lose their lives in the Manchester Arena bombing of May, 2017.
The muchloved PR manager, from Stockport, was 29.
Campaigners, led by Martyn’s mum and Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox and co-founder of the Survivors Against Terror group, have been lobbying Government for legislative change.
Reacting to the news, Mrs Murray said: “When Martyn died I promised both myself and him that I would do everything in my power to stop other families going through what we were.
“Today is a real breakthrough in those efforts and I thank the Prime Minister for responding in the way he has.
“Martyn’s law won’t stop terrorism - nothing can - but it will make it harder to commit.”