CONSERVATIVE
New Forest East

HOME AFFAIRS – MAKING VULNERABLE PREMISES SAFE - 13 October 2025

HOME AFFAIRS – MAKING VULNERABLE PREMISES SAFE - 13 October 2025

Sir Julian Lewis: As in the case of the attack on Parliament in 2017, this attack was a combination of the use of a vehicle as a deadly weapon and an attempt to break into premises to kill people indiscriminately. On both occasions, brave men had to sacrifice their life to prevent access. Would it not be a sensible first step for all vulnerable premises to have doors that can be easily locked, so that people do not have to put themselves at risk physically holding them closed? I congratulate the Home Secretary on an excellent statement.

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Shabana Mahmood): I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question and comment. He is right: there are wider learnings here. That is why the Government are implementing Martyn’s law, which is about making premises safe from attack and draws on lessons from the Manchester arena attack. That is due to be implemented. I know there is some concern in the House and elsewhere – in the Jewish and other communities – about the length of time for implementation, which is up to 24 months. I will make sure that we interrogate whether that implementation can occur more quickly; if it can, I will ensure that it does.]