The New Orleans and Magdeburg attacks show the UK “must not become complacent” in the face of the terrorist threat, former Prime Minister Theresa May said as she praised new legislation aimed at keeping people safe.
Baroness May of Maidenhead has welcomed a new law designed to help prevent and reduce the damage from terrorist attacks on event venues such as nightclubs, concert halls and churches.
The legislation, also known as Martyn’s Law, will force all venues in the UK that expect 200 or more people to be present at a time to have plans in place in the event of a terrorist attack.
Venues that expect 800 or more people to be present at a time will also have to take steps to reduce their vulnerability to an attack.
Figen Murray campaigned for the measures after his son Martyn Hett, 29, died, along with 21 others, in the Manchester Arena bombing at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017. .
Lady May, who was Prime Minister at the time of this attack, highlighted the importance of the bill in protecting lives.
She said: “The attacks that took place in Magdeburg and New Orleans over Christmas and New Year show that we cannot be complacent about the terrorist threat.
“There is a danger that, when terrorist attacks do not occur for a period of time, we may be lulled into a false sense of complacency, and we must not do that.
“That’s one of the reasons why this bill is so important.
“I welcome the fact that the Government has introduced it so early in its legislative programme, and I welcome the fact that it has such broad cross-party support.”
Recalling the aftermath of the Manchester Arena attack, Lady May said: “Having visited some of the survivors in hospital shortly after the event and having met more survivors subsequently, I realized the absolute horror of what happened that night. and the horror of a terrorist who deliberately focused on attacking children and young people.
“That night was traumatic for everyone involved and of course, as we know, that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
“Our response has to be to do everything possible to ensure that, in the future, if a terrorist attack occurs in a place where such an event is taking place, in premises where there are a significant number of people, less people lose their lives and, to the extent possible, injuries are reduced.”
Lady May made her comments as her peers debated the Counter-Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill at second reading in the House of Lords.
Introducing the bill, Lord Hanson of Flint told the upper house: “The public rightly deserve to feel safe when visiting public premises and attending events. We think we have the right balance.
“I believe it is reasonably important that venues take reasonable and appropriate practical steps to protect staff and the public from the horrific events of terrorism.
“This bill – and this doesn’t happen very often – this bill, if it passes this House, will save lives. This bill will help people save lives.
“This bill will be a testament to the people who have lost lives in the past.”
Former Labor Defense Secretary Lord Browne of Ladyton said: “This Bill is necessary to help protect our people from coordinated and malign terrorist activity, to protect their families from unimaginable pain and to increase our collective preparedness for acts of terror when they seem feasible. .”
Lord Carlile de Berriew, former counter-terrorism law watchdog and independent campaigner, said: “What we are doing is improving the safety of the public, even if it arises from tragic circumstances that should never have happened.”
Conservative peer and former chief Brexit negotiator Lord Frost warned of the additional burden the legislation placed on smaller organizations and warned of “mission creep”.
He said: “I don’t want to live in a society where all our public facilities become airports, with security checkpoints, barriers, cordons, with security officials barking at us if we take a wrong step.
“We have already made some progress down this path and therefore there is all the more reason to be confident that the provisions of this bill are really proportionate, really reduce the risks in a way that is worthwhile and do not lead us further along a path that risks never being reversed. .”
Baroness Newlove, victims’ commissioner for England and Wales and a Conservative peer, began her speech by reading aloud the names of the 22 victims killed in the Manchester attack and reminded her peers that more than a thousand were injured in the atrocity.
He said: “This bill represents a vital step in tackling the persistent threat of terrorism. His provisions are reasonable and proportionate and his poet’s ability to save lives is immense.
“By supporting this legislation we honor the memory of those lost and injured in the Manchester Arena attack, ensuring their legacy is one of action and progress.”