Martyn's Law: How a mother's passion borne out of tragedy will keep us all safer (2025)

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill has gained Royal Assent and will now become UK law

A bereaved mum's years-long campaign for heightened public safety across the UK in the ever-present face of terrorism was finally realised today - a 'lasting legacy' for her much-loved son, Martyn Hett.

Figen Murray - who lost Martyn in the Manchester Arena atrocity - said she hoped 'Martyn's Law', which gained Royal Assent on Thursday morning, would 'help to prevent more families enduring the pain and loss that mine, alongside 21 others, have experienced' since the atrocity in 2017.

Welcoming the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill now being on the statute book, Figen's fellow campaigners also praised her 'courage, bravery and passion'.

Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered MP Jo Cox, said: "This was never a quest for sympathy, it was a desire for change to make us all safer. Today Figen has achieved that, and we all owe her a debt of thanks.

"You should never doubt what the courage, bravery and passion of a mother can achieve."

After more than six years of campaigning, Martyn's Law has finally progressed through parliament and will now become a UK law. The Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle MP, confirmed just after 11am that the King had signified Royal Assent for the Bill, which is now an Act.

Figen, who was in the Commons public gallery today to hear the confirmation, has now called for businesses and venues to 'play their part' and get on board as a two-year process to phase the new law in starts.

Officially known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, now an Act, it implements a two-tiered approach for public protection.

Public venues where 200 to 799 people may gather together will have to implement plans under the standard tier requirements to keep people safe in the event of a terror attack happening at, or near, their location. They could include evacuation, lockdown and other emergency plans,

Places where 800 or more people may gather together will have to take measures to stop terror attacks from happening at their location in the first place.

The Home Office has said premises 'will be required to fulfil necessary but proportionate steps, according to their capacity, to help keep the public safe'.

Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell, the Leader of the House of Commons, thanked Figen for her 'tireless campaigning'.

"It will protect many, many venues across the country and I am absolutely delighted," she said. "I am sure the whole House will want to pay its respects to Figen."

Figen has campaigned for change for more than six years - backed by the Manchester Evening News.

She was inspired to launch the drive for a new law after her bag and tickets weren't checked at a venue in Greater Manchester she attended in the years following the bombing, in which 22 innocent lives were lost after a gig by Ariana Grande at the Arena in May, 2017.

There will now be a two-year implementation period before the Security Industry Authority, the selected regulator, will be responsible for the enforcement of Martyn’s Law.

Figen said: "Whilst nothing can bring Martyn back, this much needed law will secure his legacy and help to prevent more families enduring the pain and loss that mine, alongside 21 others, have experienced since the Manchester Arena terror attack. I'm grateful to the Prime Minister for keeping his promise and for the work the Home Office team has delivered to help us get to this point, but my work is not finished.

"Collaboration is at the core of Martyn's Law.

"As we enter the two year implementation period it is essential that everyone plays their part to ensure that businesses and venues across the country can implement the requirements to better protect the public from terrorism."

Nick Aldworth, former National Coordinator for Protect and Prepare at Counter Terrorism Policing, said the new law was 'the missing piece of the jigsaw that was needed to complete the UK counter-terrorism strategy'.

"I pay tribute to my co-campaigner, Figen Murray, whose resilience and determination, while dealing with her own grief and the needs of her family, has made this all possible."

Mr Cox, co-founder of the group Survivors Against Terror, added: "After years of delay the Government has got this on the statute book within months of coming into office and they deserve credit for that. I'd also like to thank all the other survivors of terror attacks who have backed Figen’s campaign to get this law implemented. It wouldn’t have happened without them."