Following the 2017 Manchester Arena Bombing, Martyn’s Law answers the need for increased security preparedness across public spaces, taking a mandated and uniform approach.

Terrorist attacks can occur at any time, and although schools have no control over when they might occur, they can control their level of preparedness. Although Martyn’s Law is currently going through parliament, the requirement for protective measures is immediate; rather than waiting, now is the perfect opportunity for schools to review and revise their current security measures with the advent of this robust safeguarding framework.

How does Martyn’s Law help you increase school security?

Although schools should already have an effective lockdown plan in place, Martyn’s Law goes far further. Taking a comprehensive approach to security, it clearly highlights a range of measures to make your school safer for students, staff and visitors.

The first of these is risk assessments, perhaps one of the few steps which can be taken to reduce the likelihood of potential attacks. These will be required across all educational facilities, helping to not only identify potential risks, but to reduce them and therefore make them less likely to be exploited.

Advanced security technologies such as surveillance systems and access control are also a necessary part of both detecting and deterring threats. This is in addition to upgrading physical infrastructure with protective barriers and secure entry points.

In the event of a terrorist attack, an emergency response plan is critical. Martyn’s Law focuses on the initial creation of this plan alongside its continual development to ensure it reflects the current state of your school. A major element of any plan is having the means to appropriately communicate an emergency as part of the government’s ‘Guide, Shelter & Communicate’ principles. Any mass communication must make provision for those with sensory or additional needs.

Martyn’s Law in Education emphasises the importance of running regular drills, ensuring that everyone knows what actions to take when enacting an emergency response plan. Remember that you must consider those who have already experienced trauma during any simulated emergency.

Drills should be part of a wider training and awareness programme to increase preparedness. For staff, the focus should be on recognising and responding to threats; for students, this should cover the safety protocols themselves, building a wider culture of vigilance and readiness whilst avoiding panic.

Schools should also have the means to collaborate with police and emergency services as part of a broader security network, sharing information and resources. 

The importance of now

The risk of terrorism is ever-present. Even though it isn’t law yet, in its current state Martyn’s Law already provides much-needed government guidance, laying out exactly what a school’s responsibilities are and how to safeguard pupils and staff. Without this wider context, it can be easy to either forget to update legacy security measures, or consider how inappropriate they might now be compared to available alternatives. Examples of bad practice include communicating a lockdown using whistles or emails, or having no way to evidence that drills took place.

In addition to greater security, compliance with Martyn’s Law provides other benefits, ensuring that your school meets current legal obligations, avoiding penalties and helping to work towards additional safety standards such as ISO 45001 and ISO 22301.

These measures also bolster trust and confidence in your school’s ability to maintain a safe learning environment, reassuring parents, students and even the wider community. The ability to be transparent with the security precautions and level of planning in place can alleviate concerns and foster a sense of security.

Where to start with Martyn’s Law in Education

With the advent of new legislation such as Martyn’s Law, and the constant evolution of technology, it can be very difficult for schools to maintain the highest levels of safety, security and compliance. This is where SCG is uniquely positioned to help. With our expertise in telecoms within education, we provide a level of support and training which not only ensures compliance, but maximises the benefits of your technology investments and the safeguarding they provide.

Whether you want to implement Martyn’s Law in education, increase cybersecurity or introduce student support lines, we are a one-stop shop for safety and wellbeing within your school- please do not hesitate to contact us on 0800 4700 007 or at sales@scgtogether.com.