The proposed Protect Duty represents a significant development in public safety, making venue owners legally responsible for their patrons’ safety – a landmark step previously unseen in the UK. This move will not only transform the way the UK protects its people at publicly accessible locations, but introduce a legal duty of care to provide security against potential terror attacks, say Nineteen Group, the organisers of the annual International Security Expo.
Campaigner Figen Murray, mother of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 victims of the May 2017 Manchester Arena suicide terrorist bomb, spoke at the 2021 International Security Expo at Olympia (pictured) in the autumn. She explained that while the proposed piece of legislation will not stop terrorist attacks it will reduce opportunities and deter terrorists to target venues where people congregate while helping businesses and the public to take ownership of their safety.
For the owners and managers of publicly accessible spaces, the Protect Duty will require businesses to assess a range of potential threats and implement “proportionate and reasonable measures” to improve security across their sites. Earlier this month the Home Office published its its response to the Protect Duty public consultation, which ran from February to July 2021.
The Expo returns to Olympia, London on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 27 and 28, 2022. Some 350 exhibitors are due to show their products and services, besides seminars and zones covering Disaster and Resilience, Drones and Counter UAVs, Government and Perimeter Protection.
The event celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2022. In 2021, speakers at the two-day show included Home Office Security Minister Damian Hinds.
Rachael Shattock, Event Director, International Security Expo, said: “Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed first-hand the determination of Figen Murray and other representatives of the Survivors Against Terror Campaign Team to not only lobby the Government for tangible change but engage with the security community to learn about current policies and opportunities to enhance public safety. We’ve been honoured to host Figen at the International Security Expo in the past, and now look forward to helping venue operators adapt and source the solutions needed to adhere to this critical Government legislation.”
For more details and to register your interest to attend visit: https://www.internationalsecurityexpo.com/.
