The mother of Martyn Hett, who lost his life in the Manchester Arena bomb attack, has called for face-to-face meetings with new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman to 'push' planned new counter-terrorism legislation up the government's agenda.
Figen Murray, who championed the campaign for 'Martyn's Law' legislation, said she fears the plans 'being delayed further', claiming they have already 'dragged on and on and on'.
Speaking ahead of the publication next week of the second official report arising from the Manchester Arena public inquiry into the atrocity, Figen said: "Right now, with so much turmoil in Government, I feel it is a time when security is even more at risk.
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"I know Rishi Sunak has two daughters and I want to appeal to him as a parent to try and get him to look at the security legislation that is being dragged on and on and on. I personally am quite worried about the legislation being delayed further."
In May, 'Martyn's Law' was confirmed in the Queen's Speech setting out the Government's planned legislative programme.
The draft 'Protect Duty' Bill was one of 38 Bills announced in the package, following long delays to a period of public consultation due to the coronavirus pandemic. Under the proposals, venues would have a legal duty to devise and provide specific security plans for a terror attack, but there's been no update since then.
Private and public owners of venues and sites currently have no obligation to act on free advice given to them from specialist counter-terrorism advisers about threats of a terrorist attack and how to mitigate the risk. The announcement said in the wake of the Arena bombing, the legislation would introduce new requirements for certain public locations and venues to draw up plans to respond to terrorism.
Figen added: "I am trying to put pressure on the government with the Protect Duty, aka Martyn's Law, as there has been far too much delay.
"Personally, whilst I think the cost of living crisis is top priority, the safety of people needs to be right up there for the Government. We have got the second report coming next week and this is a culmination of all of that. We need the security legislation.
"I'm doing this not just for me. It's a bit too late for me, I have lost Martyn. But I am doing this for everybody's sakes - your sons and daughters. Your families."
The proposed Bill has still got to go through various stages in the House of Commons - a first reading and a second reading - as well as pass through the House of Lords before it becomes law.
The extent and scope of the planned 'Martyn's Law' - which has been backed by venues in Manchester - was revealed at the public inquiry into the Manchester Arena bombing in November, 2020. The legislation would be 'primary legislation to impose a duty upon those who ought to be responsible for the safety of the public when they are in a publicly accessible location'.
The inquiry was told a duty would be placed on the owners or operators of venues, or public places, to consider terror threats and methodologies, assess the impact attacks could have on them and put in place plans. Anything from small businesses to 'bridges in town centres' would be covered, inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders was told.
The second report from the inquiry - due to assess the response of the emergency services to the tragedy - is being published next Thursday.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "Figen Murray has made it her mission to make sure others do not experience the tragedy that her family and many other families have had to endure.
"The Protect Duty – which she has campaigned tirelessly for – will ensure venues and public spaces put safety and security first.
"We are working hard to bring forward this important piece of legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows."
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