Manchester Arena bomb victim's mum welcomes terror security plans

The mother of a man killed in the Manchester Arena bombing has said government plans to compel venues to provide security are "a giant leap forward in the right direction".

The proposed Protect Duty will include a requirement for some public places to be prepared for a terror attack.

Figen Murray has campaigned for new rules since her son Martyn Hett died in the 2017 attack.

She said after working for five years, she could "see the end result now".

Home Secretary Priti Patel, who is due to outline the proposals on Tuesday, said her "priority is keeping the people of the UK safe".

"Following the tragic attack at the Manchester Arena, we have worked closely with Figen Murray, victims' groups and partners to develop proposals to improve protective security around the country," she said.

"We will never allow terrorists to restrict our freedoms and way of life, which is why we are committed to bringing forward legislation this year."

There is currently no legal requirement for venues to employ security measures at the vast majority of public places, but the Home Office said about 70% of those responding to the proposed Protect Duty consultation agreed those locations should take such measures.

Mrs Murray, who has campaigned for venues and local authorities to have plans against terror attacks, told BBC Breakfast it would be "amazing if this could be passed by the fifth anniversary of the attack in May".

She said: "That would mean so much for me but [also] for the other families as well."

Mr Hett was one of 22 people killed in the attack on Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017.

His mother said the planned legislation was "massive, because the government has clearly taken it on board and embraced it".

"It feels like a giant leap forward in the right direction," she said.

"I can see the end result now."

However, there were warnings that smaller venues might struggle with the cost of implementing the measures.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said the protection of staff and customers was taken "extremely seriously".

But he warned that there would be "challenges for smaller businesses, which will need a considerable level of support from government and local authorities as they assess the risk and action plan accordingly".

Mrs Murray said everything she had done since her son died was "purely for the sole purpose to stop other people from experiencing and having to live a life that we are living now".

"The effects of losing someone to a terror attack are life-changing," she said.

Mrs Murray became an OBE in the New Year Honours for her work in counter-terrorism, having graduated with a master's degree in the subject earlier in 2021.

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [email protected]