IFSEC to host exclusive conference: Martyn’s Law – The Next Steps

IFSEC will play host to an exclusive conference covering the latest on Martyn’s Law and insight into the Manchester Arena inquiry recommendations on Wednesday 17 May.

Spaces are limited, and this is one not to be missed for those security professionals impacted by the new legislation!

Protect Duty seminars from IFSEC 2022

On 22 May 2017, Figen Murray’s life changed forever when her son, Martyn Hett, was one of 22 people murdered in the Manchester Arena bombing. Over the last five years she has worked relentlessly to introduce Martyn’s Law in memory of her son to ensure that the public are more secure when attending events.

She has created a compelling case for change that the Government listened to and is now committed to. The implications of Martyn’s Law – also known as the Protect Duty – to the security industry are significant.

Businesses, facilities and public spaces that fall under its scope will have a statutory duty for owners and operators to take appropriate and proportionate measures to protect the public from terrorist attacks. The requirements will follow a tiered model, linked to the activity that takes place at a location and its capacity, to prevent undue burden on businesses.

The need for such legislation was clearly articulated throughout the three reports that followed the independent inquiry of the Manchester Arena attack. The key requirements of Martyn’s Law are likely to directly correlate with the recommendations by Chairman of the inquiry, Sir John Saunders.

Martyn’s Law Conference at IFSEC – Wednesday 17 May 2023

At IFSEC this year, an exclusive conference will take place away from the show floor in South Gallery Room 6 at ExCeL London. For the first time, Figen Murray will be joined by two of the subject matter experts from the Manchester Arena Inquiry.

Opening the conference to discuss Insight into the Security Recommendations: Volume 1 of the Manchester Arena inquiry, will be Dr David BaMaung. Dr BaMaung is currently the Director of Able Security Consultants and an Honorary Professor at Glasgow Caledonian University. Between 2020 and 2022 he was appointed as the security subject matter expert to the inquiry team. Previously he spent 36 years in policing including being the Senior counter Terrorism Security Advisor to Police Scotland.

Figen Murray will be speaking at this year’s IFSEC Martyn’s Law conference

Scott Wilson, Director of Crisis Management Solutions, will then provide Insight into the Security Recommendations Volume 2. Between 2019 and 2022 he was appointed as the Policing and Counter Terrorism subject matter expert to the inquiry team. Previously Scott was a Detective Chief Superintendent in the Metropolitan Police working as a Senior Investigating Officer on SO15, and between 2014 -2018 was the National Co-ordination Protect and Prepare for Counter Terrorism Policing. He retired with 31 years’ of police service to his name.

Both David and Scott will provide an insight into the findings of the inquiry from a security and response perspective, recognising the value of Martyn’s Law legislation in helping to ensure safe and secure spaces for the public.

At 11:30 AM, Figen Murray will provide her perspective on the journey Martyn’s Law has undergone, giving a personal perspective into her role in realising this ambition for it to become recognised legislation.

Debbie Bartlett, Head of Protect and Prepare within the Home Office, will then begin finalising the opening discussion by providing an update to the conference on the progress of the legislation. This will be shortly followed by Supt Kish Naidoo, Deputy National Co-ordinator Protect and Prepare, who will update delegates on how the competent persons scheme will complement Martyn’s Law legislation.

These sessions will be followed by a separate presentation on technology which will demonstrate how using a converged security operation centre, or converged processes, can help to manage larger spaces and arenas. To complement this, there will be live demonstrations on the show floor which will take the form of simulated security situations.

Demonstrations will showcase how a converged security strategy, which includes the use of hardware, software, social media monitoring and behavioural analytics, can provide security professionals with an overall picture of the evolving threat in real time to better manage risk and crisis situations.

All five presenters will then be available for a question-and-answer session from the audience.

If this is a subject which is of interest to your business this seminar is not to be missed! Spaces are limited, with the IFSEC Martyn’s Law Conference to take place on 17 May between 09:30-14:00 at London’s ExCeL.

Find out more and register for your ticket to the IFSEC Martyn’s Law Conference here >>