Figen Murray OBE has changed the UK public safety landscape through her campaign for Martyn’s Law, formally the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. Following the death of her son, Martyn Hett, in the Manchester Arena attack, she turned personal loss into sustained national advocacy for better preparedness at publicly accessible locations. The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, with statutory guidance issued by the Home Office in 2026.
Her campaign has helped move protective security, staff training, proportionate planning and organisational responsibility into mainstream discussion for venues, events, businesses and public bodies. In doing so, Murray has ensured that preparedness is seen not as a specialist concern, but as a practical duty for those responsible for public safety.
Education, responsibility and legacy
Murray’s influence is exceptional because her work has moved beyond awareness into legislation, guidance and practical expectations for those responsible for premises and events. Martyn’s Law is intended to improve organisational preparedness and protective security across the UK, requiring responsible persons for certain premises and events to prepare for potential terrorist attacks and help keep people safe.
Through speaking, campaigning and education, Murray continues to challenge organisations to treat preparedness as a meaningful responsibility rather than a box-ticking exercise. Her work has brought security, resilience and public protection into wider public and commercial conversation, ensuring that businesses and venues understand the human consequence of poor preparation. Her legacy is already shaping how the UK thinks about safer public spaces, while keeping Martyn’s memory central to practical, lasting change across the wider sector.
