Draft Protect Duty Bill

Draft Protect Duty Bill

The purpose of the draft Bill is to:

● Keep people safe by introducing new security requirements for certain public locations and venues to ensure preparedness for and protection from terrorist attacks.

The main benefits of the draft Bill would be:

● Enhancing national security and reducing the risk to the public from terrorism by improving protective security practices in public places.

● Providing clarity on protective security and preparedness responsibilities for organisations in scope of the Duty.

● Expanding the support available to help those responsible for delivering security in public places.

The main elements of the draft Bill are:

● Establishing a new requirements framework which requires those in control of certain public locations and venues to consider the threat from terrorism and implement appropriate and proportionate mitigation measures.

● Delivering an inspection and enforcement regime, which will seek to educate, advise, and ensure compliance with the Duty.

Territorial extent and application

● The draft Bill will extend and apply across the UK.

Key facts

● Following the appalling terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena and lessons learnt, in particular those from the Inquiry’s Security Chapter, the Government has worked closely with partners and victims’ groups, including Survivors Against

Terror and Figen Murray and the Martyn’s Law Campaign Team, to develop these proposals for a new Protect Duty.

● Independent research conducted in 2019 showed that without legal compulsion, counter terrorism security efforts are often prioritised behind legally required activities. The consideration and application of security processes and measures is inconsistent as a result.

● Seven in ten respondents to the Protect Duty consultation agreed that those responsible for publicly accessible locations should take appropriate and proportionate measures to protect the public from attacks.