Free session with Counter Terrorism Security Advisors to help Shropshire businesses understand the threat and prepare for Martyn's Law.

Shrewsbury BID is hosting a free counter terrorism awareness workshop for businesses across Shropshire. It will be delivered by specialist Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSAs) from West Midlands Counter Terrorism Policing.

The workshop is open to all staff, from management to front of house, from Shropshire-based organisations of every size and sector, whether or not Martyn’s Law applies to you.

Why attend?

Terrorist incidents remain rare, and good preparation is mostly simple and low-cost: knowing how to move people away from danger, keep them safe inside and raise the alarm. CTSAs provide the UK’s official protective security advice.

You’ll leave with:

A clearer understanding of the threat

A practical starting point for your own plans

A practical understanding of evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication

For some businesses, there’s also a legal reason to prepare. Martyn’s Law is expected to come into force in spring 2027. From then, those responsible for qualifying premises and events will need appropriate procedures in place.

The session will cover:

Free, official advice from the people who provide the UK’s counter terrorism protective security guidance

Plans that work in practice, not just on paper. The statutory guidance is clear that a written procedure isn’t enough if staff couldn’t carry it out quickly.

Your duty of care to staff and visitors, and what matters in the first minutes of an incident

A joined-up approach. Neighbouring businesses and shared buildings may need to coordinate, and this is a chance to meet others in the same position.

What this workshop is, and isn’t

This is an awareness session, not a compliance workshop. The CTSAs won’t check paperwork or advise on whether you’ve met your legal obligations. Martyn’s Law is regulated by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). What you will get is an understanding of the threat, a sense of what good preparation looks like, and confidence about your next steps.

Before you attend

We recommend completing the free ACT Awareness e-learning through ProtectUK beforehand. It takes around 45 minutes, and the workshop will build on it. You’ll need to register with ProtectUK to access it: https://www.protectuk.police.uk/user/register

Please share this with neighbouring businesses and anyone in your organisation responsible for safety or premises.

Questions? Contact Shrewsbury BID at info@shrewsburybid.co.uk

Description supplied by the event organiser.