Jackson Fire and Security explains the Protect Duty

The results of a 2021 government consultation about terror attacks in public locations were recently shared, and Jackson Fire has now broken down what these results mean.

In the words of Jackson Fire and Security, “In January this year, the Government published the findings of [the] Protect Duty consultation and affirmed its commitment to legally obliging more venues to provide better security and to be more prepared in the event of a terrorist attack taking place.” The Protect Duty “evolved from the Martyn’s Law campaign” and has been “championed by victims’ groups to push for legislation to substantially improve security. Following last year’s consultation and the government’s response, these are they takeaways, according to the security franchise:

• “The consultation received 2755 responses in total from a range of organisations, sectors and campaigners. And there was clear support for the overall proposal to bring in more robust security measures, including legislating for greater protection against terrorist attacks.”
• “7 in 10 respondents believed that those responsible for publicly accessible locations must introduce appropriate and proportionate measures to protect the public from attacks, such as ensuring staff receive specific training in how to respond.”
• “There was also consensus that venue size should influence the measures required, with smaller and medium sized venues not facing the same requirements as larger ones to avoid placing an ‘undue burden’ on them.”
• “A desire for very clear accountability was also apparent, particularly in terms of clarity over roles and responsibilities for event organisers and owners. Respondents also specified the need for guidance to help businesses comply, including advice on physical security measures like CCTV, and in activities like conducting security risk assessments.”

As of now, there’s no specific legal obligation to comply, but many businesses are already taking steps to improve premises security, and the consultation “highlighted that 50% of respondents were already carrying out risk assessments to specifically address the terrorism threat”. More details from the government about the Protect Duty will be forthcoming and it’s expected to be introduced this year. More details about a potential franchise investment with knowledgeable security franchise Jackson Fire and Security can be found via the company’s profile page, which is linked above.