Patel plans mandatory security for venues

Venues would have a legal duty to provide security in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing under Government plans set for publication.

Home Secretary Priti Patel is due to detail the proposals, which include a requirement for some public places to be prepared for a terror attack, today.

They follow a consultation into what sort of venue should be bound by the so-called Protect Duty in the wake of the May 2017 atrocity in which 22 innocent people were killed as they left an Ariana Grande concert.

Figen Murray, mother of 29-year-old victim Martyn Hett, has campaigned for the introduction of a Martyn's Law, including calling for venues and local authorities to have action plans against such attacks.

Currently there is no legal requirement for venues to employ security measures at the vast majority of public places.

But seven in ten of the 2,755 respondents to the consultation agreed that publicly accessible locations should take measures to protect people from attacks, according to the Home Office.

Ahead of the publication of the plans, Ms Patel said: "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.

She added: "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, that will strike the right balance between public safety, whilst not placing excessive burden on small businesses."