What is the Protect Duty Legislation?

The Protect Duty Legislation is a new piece of UK Government legislation that addresses the ongoing threat of terrorism across the country. These threats have put more pressure on businesses and public venues to heighten their security in order to protect property and human life.

The legislation requires the owners or managers of public enterprises to take strict measures to protect the security and safety of the public. These measures include:

·  Participate in free counterterrorism education and training

·  Assess the vulnerabilities of their public spaces

·  Take steps to mitigate the risks associated with all identified vulnerabilities

·  Create a comprehensive counterterrorism plan to prevent and address terrorist attacks in the public spaces

·  Coordinate with local authorities about potential terrorist threats

The inspiration for the legislation comes from the series of terrorist attacks in the UK over the last few years. For example, the 2017 terrorist bombing of the Manchester Arena left 22 people dead. It was the deadliest terrorist attack in the country since the London bombings in 2005.

Unfortunately, the terrorist attacks didn’t stop in 2017. There was also the 2019 London Bridge attack and a failed bombing attempt at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital in 2021. These kinds of nonstop attacks and threats of violence finally forced UK legislators to take action and address the problem. They passed the Protect Duty legislation to enhance public safety throughout the country.

Roughly 650,000 British businesses across numerous sectors are expected to be impacted by this legislation. The impact on each organisation depends on the size of their public venue and the number of vulnerabilities present. The Protect Duty legislation affects three specific types of public spaces:

·  Organisations employing at least 250 people or more in locations accessible by the public, such as entertainment venues and retail stores

·  Any public venue with a minimum capacity of 100 people, such as sports stadiums, movie theaters, shopping centres, etc.

·  All public spaces where pedestrians can enter and roam freely, such as public parks, beaches, bridges, thoroughfares, and town squares

Private businesses with employees who don’t engage with the public will not be affected. The Protect Duty legislation targets companies and events that use public property or operate in publicly accessible areas. After all, the legislation’s primary purpose is to protect the public when they engage with an organisation or its employees.

There is no telling when or where the next terrorist attack will strike, but you can be sure it’ll happen in a public space in the UK. Business owners and operators must remain vigilant and take the necessary steps to protect the public.

Get Professional Assistance Today

Do you need professional assistance in improving the security of your public space and fulfilling the requirements of the Protect Duty legislation?

Athena Security Solutions can offer you counselling and guidance on performing a comprehensive risk assessment of your public space and identifying any existing vulnerabilities. In addition, we can show you how to prepare a quality emergency response plan for a potential terrorist to help ensure the public’s safety.  

Call us at 0800 020 6200 or email us at info@athenasecuritysolutions.co.uk for more information.