Today, Shrewsbury Town Council hosted a vital desktop exercise to support key event stakeholders in adopting best practices under the forthcoming Martyn’s Law – officially known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.
Martyn’s Law will require public venues to take proportionate steps to ensure they are better prepared for, and more resilient to, potential terrorist attacks. The legislation aims to improve public safety by mandating clear risk assessment and response planning procedures at venues where large numbers of people gather.
The exercise centred around a fictional event taking place in Quarry Park – a major public space managed by Shrewsbury Town Council. Participants worked through a number of scenarios designed to encourage collaborative thinking, improve communication, and strengthen coordinated responses to potential threats.
Officers of Shrewsbury Town Council took part in the exercise alongside representatives from:
- Kilimanjaro Live Ltd
- Shropshire Festivals
- Shropshire Horticultural Society
- ProSecure 2000
- Members of the Police
- Proms in the Park
We are grateful to all who participated and shared their expertise in making events in Shrewsbury safer and more secure.
Helen Ball, Town Clerk for Shrewsbury Town Council, said:
"Events are an integral part of Shrewsbury’s identity, bringing people together to celebrate everything our town has to offer. With the introduction of Martyn’s Law, it is vital we are all prepared to respond appropriately to any risks. Today’s exercise was an excellent opportunity to strengthen our partnerships and ensure we are collectively ready to deliver safe and secure events for the community."
Shrewsbury Town Council remains committed to working with event organisers, emergency services, and other stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of public safety in all our public spaces.