Protect Duty is a piece of new government legislation designed to provide better protection from terrorism for the British public, and is expected to come into force in 2023. The policy aims to create a consistent and proportionate process for enhancing security across any place or space to which the public have access.
Protect Duty – known widely as ‘Martyn’s Law’ – comes in the wake of a number of terrorist attacks in public spaces across the UK – most notably, the Manchester Arena bombing. The purpose of Protect Duty is to improve security in public spaces, protecting and enhancing the safety of both visitors and staff.