Following a consultation on this proposed legislation, the select committee has released a report, reflecting many of our members' main concerns – which now awaits a response from the government.
This proposed law has been conceived following the Manchester Arena tragedy and campaigning by one of the victim’s, Martyn Hett’s, mother. Her understandable aim is to prevent other families from having to endure a loss such as hers.
The bill’s stated aim is to increase awareness of and preparedness for terrorist risks in premises accessible to the public in a proportionate way. However, the current draft raises concerns about its impact on community activity. Applicable to premises of 100+ capacity, it is feared the bill’s requirements could be the final straw for the thousands of volunteers overseeing local community or village halls and places of worship. The repercussions of such spaces closing would be devastating for Making Music members and other community activities.
The laudable aims of the bill thus do not currently translate well into the draft Act, rated ‘not fit for purpose’ by the government’s own impact assessment. Making Music and 21 members (directly or via us) submitted evidence to the recent enquiry by the Home Affairs Select Committee.
We are pleased that our main concerns are reflected in the report the committee has just published, which includes among its recommendations one that we also put forward, namely that the bill apply to 800+ capacity premises only in the first instance.
The next step is now a response from the government.
Read all published submissions and the full Prelegislative Scrutiny of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Draft Bill
