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Send us an email Figen Murray’s son Martyn was one of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017. Eighteen months later she went to a 3,000 capacity concert in the same city and walked straight in. Nobody checked a ticket or a bag. She went home, looked for the law that required venues to do anything about terrorism, and found there wasn’t one. The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn’s Law, is the result. From April 2027 it applies to most venues and events in the UK with 200 or more people. In this conversation Figen talks about Martyn (“a one-man party”), how a therapist who was uncomfortable in a room of six people ended up speaking at the European Parliament and the UN, and why she did a master’s in counter-terrorism before she ever sat down with a Home Secretary. Then we get into the practical side. Why venues are telling us “we’ll get this season out of the way first”, and why she thinks that’s a mistake. What the first SIA inspections are likely to look like. The public awareness campaign that hasn’t happened yet, and what she expects to happen on social media when it does. The companies using her name and Martyn’s photo to sell compliance services, and what she thinks of that. Grey space, the City Room, and why paperwork and communication are the same problem. And the one line she gave Keir Starmer when he asked how she stays motivated. We talk about: 00:00 Who Figen Murray is  01:21 Martyn, and life before 2017  03:04 From shy therapist to the European Parliament  04:34 The concert that started the campaign  08:31 Why a master’s in counter-terrorism  10:00 Royal Assent, and a six month campaign that became a full time job  11:11 Why venues are putting it off, and why “now is the time”  12:44 The public don’t know yet. What happens when they do  14:59 Thinking like a terrorist: why a “we’re compliant” sticker is a bad idea  16:27 Consultants, free guidance, and companies trading on Martyn’s name  19:46 Why it’s called Martyn’s Law  21:46 What SIA inspections will actually look like  23:41 The Section 27 guidance: “the Bible to the whole legislation”  27:38 Grey space and the City Room  31:45 Templates, copy and paste plans, and honesty  35:56 “I’ve got my son’s ashes on a bookshelf at home”  37:08 What the next six months look like Everything a venue or event organiser needs is free at ProtectUK https://www.protectuk.police.uk/ the legislation, the Section 27 statutory guidance, fact sheets, animations and the ACT Awareness e-learning. The Home Office and the SIA are running webinars and roadshows; get on one. Follow Figen’s work via the Martyn’s Law Forum on LinkedIn.

Send us an email How much medical cover does an event actually need? For years, organisers and medical providers have relied on reference tables, previous-event staffing levels and professional judgement. But those approaches can fail to account for the factors that really shape medical demand, including audience profile, weather, event type, drug use, crowd movement, site layout and access to water. In this episode, David Franklin speaks with Owain Davies, founder of Better Event Medicine and author of Medical Provision for Events and Crowds: Evidence-Based Practice. Owain explains why event medical planning should move beyond simple formulas and towards a structured, evidence-based assessment of likely patient presentations, hospital transfers and resource demand. They discuss: • Why reference tables can provide too much or too little medical cover • The relationship between temperature and patient presentations • How free drinking water can significantly reduce medical demand • Why medical plans should be reviewed as conditions change • The importance of live weather, pollen, pollution and site intelligence • How medical, safety and security teams should work from shared plans • Why patient access planning matters across large and complex sites • The risks of relying on mobile phones and WhatsApp for emergency communications • How mobile networks can fail when crowds overload local infrastructure • Why medical teams may need dedicated and resilient internet access • How to prepare METHANE messages before an incident occurs • The role of surge plans, major incident planning and proactive public messaging • Why mass-casualty incidents must be treated as foreseeable event risks • How better medical planning protects attendees, event reputation and commercial viability The conversation also considers Martyn’s Law, the Manchester Arena Inquiry, emergency response times and the importance of ensuring that event plans are practical, accessible and understood before the gates open. This episode is essential listening for event organisers, safety officers, medical providers, venue managers, security professionals, local authorities and anyone responsible for event medical provision. Guest: Owain Davies Host: David Franklin Podcast: SafetyDocs Buy Medical Provision for Events and Crowds: https://amzn.eu/d/08337OfQ Learn more about SafetyDocs: www.safetydocs.org

Send us an email When a crowd disaster makes the news, two words usually appear almost immediately: panic and stampede. Dr G. Keith Still argues that both terms are often wrong. They place the blame on the crowd, when the real failures may have happened months earlier through poor planning, misunderstood capacity limits, weak crowd-flow analysis and safety documents that were never properly tested. In this episode, David Franklin speaks with one of the world’s leading crowd science specialists about how crowds really move, what happens when density reaches dangerous levels, and why people do not simply behave irrationally in an emergency. Keith explains the relationship between crowd psychology and physical crowd dynamics, including the point at which a crowd begins to behave more like a physical system than a collection of individuals. They also discuss: Why people often leave through the entrance they already knowThe difference between crowd panic, crowd crush and progressive crowd collapseWhat changes between five and six people per square metreWhy smooth computer simulations can create false confidenceHow simulations should test failure, not simply demonstrate successThe DIM-ICE and RAMP crowd-safety modelsWhy simple site plans, tracing paper and coloured pencils can outperform expensive softwareThe difference between an experienced crowd manager and a competent oneCommon warning signs in generic and copied risk assessmentsHow crowd risk should be addressed across ingress, circulation and egressWhy site-specific diagrams and flowcharts strengthen event safety documentationThe importance of live, current and venue-specific operational plansWhat Martyn’s Law could mean for event documentation, training and crowd communicationKeith also shares examples from his work on major international events and crowd-safety investigations, including the Hajj, the Olympic Games, the Love Parade disaster, Astroworld and Hillsborough. This is an essential conversation for event organisers, venue operators, safety professionals, security managers, licensing officers and anyone responsible for planning or managing places where crowds gather. Guest: Dr G. Keith Still BUY THE BOOK Host: David Franklin Podcast: SafetyDocs Podcast FREE TRIAL no card required

Send us an email The difference between a safe exit and a tragedy is arithmetic. This episode walks through Introduction to Crowd Science by Prof G. Keith Still: why 'stampede' and 'panic' are words that blame the victims, why crowd disasters are system failures built in months before the gates open, and why the tools that actually save lives are a map, a clicker and a piece of string. We cover the body ellipse and the five people per square metre ceiling, shockwaves and compressive asphyxia, Hillsborough and the Love Parade, RAMP analysis and the DIM-ICE model, the CCTV illusion that fools control rooms, and the 80 per cent rule behind London's New Year fireworks. Plus the one variable no simulation on earth has a line of code for: a police horse. Correction: in the episode we describe simulation software allowing digital crowds to pack at 6.25 people per square metre, beyond the danger threshold. Prof Still's point is the reverse. Grid-based simulations cap packing at 6.25 people per square metre, while real crowds reach crushing pressure at 7 to 10. The software cannot reach the densities that kill, so it can never show you the risk. The conclusion stands, and is stronger for the fix: treat simulation outputs with expert care. Order the book: Introduction to Crowd Science, G. Keith Still (CRC Press): https://www.routledge.com/Introduction-to-Crowd-Science/Still/p/book/9781466579644

Send us an email Most event medical plans still start with a table. Attendance on one axis, first aiders and ambulances on the other. Trace your finger across the grid, write the number down, file the plan. That table is not evidence. It is a group of professionals sitting in a room decades ago making educated guesses, and those guesses ignored almost everything that actually drives injury and illness at an event. In this episode we take the attendance ratio apart and look at what replaces it. What we cover: Why a low-participation, fully seated event can run a presentation rate as low as 0.01 per 1,000, and why moshing and crowd surfing drive a 10 to 20 fold increase on the same headcountTemperature, which has one of the highest impacts of any variable factor: expect as much as a 10% rise in presentation rate for every 1°C above 20°C, and a doubling of the rate if free drinking water is not availableBounded versus unbounded events, crowd density, and the critical density point at around 5 people per square metre, beyond which people cannot reach care and cannot help themselvesThe 200 metre rule: a team walking freely covers around 432 metres in four minutes, but in a crowd that collapses to about 216Case mix, the five tiers of severity, and why a marathon needs volume while a racecourse needs a trauma-capable teamThe transport to hospital rate, the industry's real measure of success, and why under-staffing on the front end drains the local NHS on the back endDuty of care, the Caparo test and the Bolam test: why "we used the same table everyone else uses" is not a defenceThe event to host population ratio, and how a 4,000 person event in a village of 500 can swallow every ambulance in the countyThe closing question is the one worth sitting with. If every degree above 20°C means as much as 10% more patients, and baseline temperatures keep rising, at what point does the traditional outdoor summer festival become mathematically too expensive to cover in its current form? A note on two figures in this episode. The 8 to 12 presentations per 1,000 figure, and the 15% concussion and 20% fracture rates, apply to horse jump racing and to jockeys, not to equestrian cross country. The manual puts equestrian eventing nearer a PPR of 15 and competitive cross country at 15 to 22. The manual also notes that the true workload in horse racing is closer to a PPR of 50 to 70, because there are 50 to 70 falls per 1,000 race starters and every faller needs assessment; the 8 to 12 figure counts only those actually injured. Separately, the transport to hospital gold standard is under 1%, achieved by the best providers. Under 2% is the target most events should aim for. Full detail is in the accompanying article. Presented by SafetyDocs. Live, synchronised safety documents for venues and event organisers. Buy the book

Send us an email Join us for a deep dive into the March 2026 edition of the eGuide, the essential regulatory manual for organising indoor events and exhibitions in UK venues. In this episode, we unpack the comprehensive guidelines established by the AEV, AEO, and ESSA to ensure the safety, compliance, and smooth operation of massive conventions. We explore the critical administrative deadlines, such as the strict 28-day notice period required for complex structures, hazardous activities, and special features. Our discussion covers a wide array of fascinating logistical challenges, from the engineering behind rigging and electrical installations to the strict protocols surrounding medical treatments, adult entertainment, and the use of live animals or drones on the exhibition floor. Whether you are coordinating crowd management, building temporary demountable structures, or ensuring robust safeguarding and accessibility measures for all visitors, this episode breaks down the crucial rules every event professional needs to know to keep the show running safely

Send us an email On April 30, 2026, the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) raised the UK National Threat Level from Substantial to SEVERE, indicating that a terrorist attack is highly likely. In this critical episode, we break down what this shift means for businesses, organizations, and the general public. We examine the recent statement from the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, who highlighted the growing risks driven by both Islamist and Extreme Right-Wing terrorism, alongside an elevated threat to Jewish and Israeli communities. We also guide you through actionable protective security measures, detailing the ProtectUK Risk Management Process—a five-stage approach to identifying, assessing, and treating security vulnerabilities. Listeners will learn about deploying enhanced, temporary security controls using the Menu of Tactical Options (MoTO) during periods of heightened risk and gain crucial insights into recognising five key terrorist attack methodologies, including Marauding Terrorist Attacks (MTA) and Vehicle As a Weapon (VAW). Join us as we discuss how to remain vigilant, implement robust security plans, and stay alert, but not alarmed.

Send us an email Welcome to Martyn’s Law in Focus. In today's episode, we provide an initial deep dive into the newly published statutory guidance issued under Section 27 of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, widely known as Martyn’s Law. With the Home Office releasing this guidance yesterday, we break down what this means for venue operators, event organisers, and compliance teams across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Crucially, we clarify the timeline for compliance. Section 27 has been commenced so the guidance can be published and laid before Parliament, but this does not mean the full operational duties are legally binding right now. The Act achieved Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, and there is an implementation period of at least 24 months. This means the substantive legal requirements will not become mandatory until at least 3 April 2027, giving those in scope vital time to prepare. In this episode, we explore several practical operational rules outlined in the new document. First, we tackle staff training and access to public protection procedures. The guidance is clear: for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, or communication plans to be effective, staff must know how to enact them rapidly. We discuss how to achieve this through inductions, prompt cards, and briefings, while carefully balancing the need to share information with strict information security. Sensitive details about a venue's vulnerabilities or specific security designs must be strictly controlled on a role-specific basis to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. We also navigate the complexities of hybrid venues and hired spaces. If you are the individual or organisation with overall control of a building, you remain the "responsible person" and cannot contract out your legal liability to a hirer or third-party service provider. We explain how you should manage this by specifying security duties within hire contracts and monitoring compliance. We also highlight the major exception: if a hirer takes over a space within a standard tier venue to host a "qualifying event" (where 800 or more people are expected and specific entry checks are in place), the hirer becomes the responsible person for that specific event, requiring both parties to co-ordinate their safety procedures. GUIDE IS HERE Important Disclaimer: We are not legal experts, and this episode is intended purely as an initial conversation about the newly released guidance to help our listeners start thinking about preparedness. The statutory guidance clearly states that every qualifying premises and event will be unique. We may have misunderstood some of the directions, and this discussion does not replace official legal or regulatory advice. It is the listener's responsibility to study the statutory requirements and assess how the legal framework applies to their specific circumstances. You must take your regulatory and compliance advice directly from the official regulator, the Security Industry Authority (SIA), and not from us.

Send us an email Episode Description: Beyond Run Hide Tell – Understanding the Guide Shelter Report (GSR) In this episode, we dive into the Guide Shelter Report (GSR), a crucial set of dynamic response principles designed to help businesses and organisations effectively respond to a terrorist attack. Developed by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) in consultation with businesses of all sizes, GSR represents a vital evolution in protective security and organisational preparedness. While the well-known Run Hide Tell (RHT) protocol remains essential life-saving advice for the general public, it was never intended to serve as a primary incident response plan for businesses. Simply telling staff to run or hide places the burden of survival entirely on individuals, failing to support a structured response that meets an organisation's legal and duty of care responsibilities. Throughout the episode, we break down the three core components of GSR: Guide: Directing the public, visitors, and personnel away from danger through evacuation, invacuation to a safe internal area, or initiating a lockdown. Shelter: Keeping people safe by securing them inside a locked building, keeping them away from external walls and windows, or moving them to a pre-selected external location. Report: Safely contacting the emergency services (999) using the ETHANE framework, only once the immediate danger has passed. Here it is: https://www.protectuk.police.uk/gsr We discuss how these principles are designed to be dynamic, meaning they do not have to be executed in a strict sequence. This flexibility allows staff to adapt to fast-moving and complex threat scenarios, such as Marauding Terrorist Attacks (MTA), Vehicle as a Weapon (VAW) incidents, or Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). However, simply knowing the acronym isn't enough. We also explore the practical steps businesses operating within Venues and Public Spaces (VaPS)—which range from local cafes and retail stores to massive sports stadiums and transport hubs—must take to actually implement these principles. We cover how to embed GSR into your organisation's everyday security culture by conducting risk assessments, developing concrete incident management procedures, and ensuring all staff, including temporary workers and volunteers, are thoroughly trained. Finally, we emphasise the critical importance of testing and exercising these plans so that your staff can act with confidence when it matters most. Tune in to learn how your organisation can move beyond individual survival tactics to build a comprehensive, coordinated response plan capable of protecting people and saving lives

Send us an email Securing the Gate – Managing Ingress and Egress Threats Welcome to Securing the Gate, the podcast dedicated to the critical phases of venue operations that often present the highest risks: ingress and egress. Drawing on expert guidance from the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), we explore why the arrival, departure, and dispersion of crowds are predictable windows of vulnerability for terrorist threats such as Marauding Terrorist Attacks (MTA), Vehicles as a Weapon (VAW), and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). Each episode delves into the complexities of crowd dynamics, from the psychological impact of targeting "soft targets" to the challenges of managing Grey Space (or Zone Ex)—those areas outside a venue’s direct control where responsibility for security is often shared or disputed. We provide venue owners, security managers, and event planners with a scalable approach to security, covering everything from Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) and advanced search regimes to the "Power of Hello" through SCaN training. Learn how to move beyond mere compliance to a culture of "not here, not today" by recording, testing, reviewing, and revising your security plans. Whether you manage a 950-seat theater or a 30,000-capacity stadium, this podcast offers the insights needed to protect your staff and visitors when they are most exposed. safetydocs.org

Send us an email The research aimed to identify actions necessary to enhance the perception of private security, revealing that views within the sector itself are mixed. Strikingly, less than half (45%) of security professionals surveyed held a positive view of the sector, and only 20% believed the general perception in society is positive. Security professionals identified the police, politicians, and the general public as the groups likely to hold the most negative perceptions. Two major barriers impede image improvement: 1. Lack of Recognition of Value (79% barrier): This is largely a conceptual challenge, as security is primarily viewed as a "cost centre" where success is defined by the "absence" of negative outcomes. This paradox leads to undervaluation, causing security to slide down corporate priorities. Consequently, key roles such as frontline security officers and guarding companies are considered the least recognised for their value. This lack of recognition overlooks the critical societal role private security plays in filling resource gaps and reducing the burden on public resources to protect people and places. 2. Actual Performance Weaknesses (75% barrier): This practical issue undermines professionalism and includes concerns over poor recruitment practices, insufficient training, lack of skills (especially communication), and poor appearance among frontline individuals. Interviewees highlighted a major paradox: frontline officers are often perceived as low-skilled and low-paid, yet they carry immense responsibilities, putting themselves at risk and dealing with abuse and violence to keep people safe. This issue is exacerbated by client demands to buy "cheap" security, fostering a "race to the bottom" where suppliers cut corners, perpetuating poor quality provision. Since no single shortcoming exists, a multi-pronged approach is necessary to gain respect, as all explored actions were highly valued. The top-rated actions (90% importance) focus on enhancing competence and strategic value: • Demonstrate that security leaders are as competent as other business leaders. • Demonstrate that private security acts as an 'enabler' (allowing organisations, events, and sites to operate successfully). • Raise better awareness of the full range of work and skills across private security beyond frontline roles. • Promote procurement practices that prioritise obtaining good-quality security products and services. A crucial prerequisite to enhancing perception is tackling the weak points in the quality of security delivered. At safetydocs.org we are building apps to give security professionals the information thats live and in the palm of their hands

Send us an email Vehicle Ramming Attacks: Tracking the Surge in a Growing Global Threat Explore the crucial findings from the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) on the global phenomenon of vehicle ramming attacks (VRAs). Drawing on MTI’s proprietary database, which catalogues thousands of attacks against public surface transportation dating back to January 1970, this description summarises an update examining the frequency, lethality, and necessary mitigation measures concerning this tactic. The report highlights a recent, significant surge, with 27 vehicle ramming attacks reported worldwide during the nine months ending July 31, 2025. Since 2012, the vast majority of these incidents have occurred in economically more advanced countries (Group 1 countries). The United States has experienced the most attacks (85) since 2012, followed by Israel and the Palestinian Territories (70). Crucially, the volume of attacks and the number of fatalities are both gradually increasing over time in the U.S.. The motivation behind these attacks is complex: while some are ideologically or terrorist-motivated (such as the deadly 2025 New Orleans attack, the deadliest VRA in the United States, carried out by an army veteran claiming allegiance to ISIS), others stem from non-ideological factors. Mental health issues are commonly reported in many cases. Attacks are often observed to occur in clusters, demonstrating a contagion effect. We detail the factors that make these incidents lethal, including attacks involving larger, faster vehicles in crowded, narrow spaces, and the high lethality seen in attacks on pedestrianised streets and public gatherings in Group 1 countries. High-casualty incidents often involve rented or stolen vehicles. The research supports considerations for adapting transportation planning, street design, and event security to the growing threat. Although VRAs can achieve high body counts, the risk of death or capture for perpetrators (approximately 27.1 percent) is a significant barrier compared to historical airline hijackings.

Send us an email This podcast explores new evidence and foundational assumptions concerning public behaviour during perceived hostile threats, such as marauding terrorist attacks (MTAs) and crowd flight incidents resulting from false alarms. We challenge the widespread misconception of "mass panic" and "mindless stampedes," which often fail to account for observable actions in real emergencies and historical events like the 1943 Bethnal Green tube shelter disaster. Instead, evidence consistently points to collective resilience, where significant numbers of people cooperate, support each other, and interact socially within the incident itself. This cooperation often stems from an emergent shared social identity, forged by the experience of common fate. We investigate why false alarm flight incidents occur so frequently in crowded spaces like transport hubs and shopping centres. These events, such as the high-profile Oxford Street false alarm in 2017, are rarely sudden or impulsive. They are often triggered by a combination of factors: the context of recent genuine terrorist attacks providing a framing for threat perception, and the urgent behaviour or communications of other people (a process known as social appraisal). Even during an urgent flight, observed public behaviour is diverse, including hiding, seeking/sharing information, walking away, and supportive actions. Furthermore, we analyse the complex actions of "zero responders"—members of the public who spontaneously intervene against visible attackers. Analysis of the 2015 Leytonstone tube station knife attack reveals a sophisticated, spontaneous coordination where individuals adopt complementary roles such as defending, communicating, and providing first aid. The research provides crucial recommendations for policymakers and practitioners to facilitate cooperative behaviour. This includes embedding the psychology of public behaviour in training, prioritising informative and actionable crisis communication over simple emotional reassurances, and building long-term trust with the public. We also discuss how providing resources like first aid kits in transport infrastructure can enable members of the public to act more effectively as zero responders.

Send us an email Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme, a guidance document from the Home Office that offers funded security measures to certain places of worship and associated community centers in England and Wales. This scheme covers protective items like CCTV, alarms, and secure doors, including installation and one year of maintenance. Eligibility for the program requires the applicant to be a registered charity (or exempt) and demonstrate either a history of or a strong risk of hate crime, while places of worship like Jewish and Muslim centers are directed to separate funding initiatives. Applicants must provide detailed evidence of incidents and explain the impact on their community for the application to be successful. To apply: https://www.homeofficesurveys.homeoffice.gov.uk/s/placesofworshipscheme/

Send us an email In this episode of The Deep Dive, we explore ACT for Local Authorities — the UK-wide initiative led by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) designed to help councils and local government partners integrate counter terrorism measures into everyday operations. We break down how this programme fits into the UK’s CONTEST strategy, focusing on the Protect and Prepare strands, and discuss why local authorities are uniquely placed to safeguard public spaces. From identifying vulnerabilities in parks, high streets and transport hubs to implementing protective design, training, and preparedness frameworks, this episode explains how local governance and policing work hand-in-hand to protect communities. You’ll also hear insights on:  ✅ The evolving terrorist threat landscape and what “low-sophistication” attacks mean for cities and towns.  ✅ The role of Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSAs) and Counter Terrorism Prepare Officers (CTPOs). ✅ How the Maturity Matrix helps councils assess their protective security readiness. ✅ Why this local approach complements Martyn’s Law and makes the UK’s public spaces safer. 🎧 Tune in to learn how collaboration, planning, and awareness can turn every local authority into a frontline defender against terrorism. 👉 Visit safetydocs.org to access digital safety templates and counter-terror preparedness tools.