Understanding the Protect Duty Bill: What it Means for Public Safety
In an evolving security landscape, the UK government is introducing the Protect Duty Bill, a legislation aimed at enhancing the safety of public spaces. This bill places legal responsibilities on organisations to assess risks, implement security measures, and prepare for potential threats.
With its introduction, businesses and venues that welcome the public must take proactive steps to ensure the security of their spaces, staff, and visitors. But what does this bill entail, and how can organisations comply effectively?
What is the Protect Duty Bill?
The Protect Duty Bill, also informally known as "Martyn’s Law," was proposed in response to growing concerns over public safety, particularly following tragic events such as the Manchester Arena attack. It establishes clear legal expectations for businesses and organisations responsible for venues and locations that accommodate the public.
Failure to comply with the regulations could lead to financial penalties, reputational harm, and increased vulnerability to security threats. Beyond legal obligations, ensuring robust security measures can save lives and create safer environments for all.
Assessing Your Vulnerabilities
The current bill aims to mandate that venues and organisations must assess risks, establish preparedness plans, and take steps to reduce vulnerabilities to potential attacks by imposing two tiers of obligations, which are currently;
✅ Standard Duty (200-799 capacity): Risk assessments, response planning, and staff training. Identify security risks by evaluating physical security, access management, and emergency protocols. Provide a practical framework to ensure compliance efficiently, without unnecessary complexity.
✅ Enhanced Duty (800+ capacity): Regulatory notification, in-depth risk assessments, and proactive protective measures. Analyse risks through attack scenarios, threat intelligence, and penetration testing. Designed for high-risk sites, they ensure Protect Duty compliance, mitigate threats, and create safer environments for organisations and the public.
How Organisations Can Prepare
1. Conducting Risk Assessments
Understanding the vulnerabilities of your site is the first step. This includes evaluating physical security, access control, and potential threat scenarios.
2. Implementing Security Measures
Depending on the venue size and risk level, organisations should consider:
Enhanced surveillance and monitoring systems
Access control and visitor screening
Emergency response plans
Regular security audits
3. Staff Training & Awareness
Security isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s also about preparedness and response. Employees should be trained in:
Recognising suspicious activity
Responding effectively in a crisis
Understanding emergency evacuation procedures
IMPACT Real-World Crisis Response Training
While existing government strategies like PREPARE and ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) provide guidelines, practical, hands-on training is essential for true resilience.
Designed by security professionals, BLOCKPHISH offer scenario-based learning, to allow staff to practice responding to incidents in a controlled environment. This enhances confidence, improves decision-making under pressure, and ensures that businesses can react swiftly if a real threat emerges. Our flexible (Live, virtual, or hybrid) training programs will cover attack psychology; the fight, flight, freeze or fawn response, and how to control it. We will delve into the mechanisms of injury associated with terror attacks and teach you how to preserve life during the golden hour.
You will also learn adoptive-defence techniques if an escape cannot be made, and how to identify post-traumatic stress within yourself and your colleagues.
Final Thoughts: Preparedness isn’t just a policy; it’s a responsibility.
The introduction of the Protect Duty Bill underscores the need for organisations to move beyond basic compliance and embrace a culture of preparedness. Public safety is not just a regulatory obligation—it’s a moral responsibility. By investing in robust security strategies, employee training, and proactive risk assessments, businesses can create safer environments for everyone.
Your Security, Our Passion…
To learn more about the Protect Duty Bill, our assessments and real-world training, get in touch with our experts today!
📩 contact@BLOCKPHISH.com or ben.harris@blockphish.com
📞 (+44) 845 86 22 365
Empower yourself, and your employees, with the knowledge and confidence to act decisively in moments of crisis.
