A campaign to increase and legally standardise security and counter-terror policies at public venues has taken a step forward as the Government is said to be 'on board' with 'Martyn's Law'.
Named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack, campaigners led by his mother, Figen Murray, want new laws to be introduced to further protect the public.
They would compel public venues and spaces to undergo counter-terror training and implement specific security policies.
After the mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, said the public's security experience was 'variable' and there was no clear and legal standards at venues, the campaign team led by Mrs Murray met Brandon Lewis MP, security minister at the Home Office, in London.
Afterwards she said he was 'definitely on board' with the principles of Martyn's Law and 'pledged to take it further'.
Mrs Murray described the meeting as 'very positive' and vowed to 'continue to push for this to become a reality', saying they would 'judge the Government on his commitment'.
She told the M.E.N.: "I am very grateful that we were given the opportunity to meet with the Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP, who is definitely on board with Martyn's Law.
"He has pledged to take it forward and further conversations will soon be taking place to discuss the best way forward so that this gets onto the statute book and protects people.
"Although the meeting felt very supportive of Martyn's Law, we will keep up the pressure.
"I said in the meeting that I will not let this go as it is too important, and I don’t want other people to be in my situation.
"We will judge him and judge the Government and that commitment against what is delivered."
Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, and retired chief superintendent Nick Aldworth, who was the country's national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism, were also at the meeting.
At a launch event in Manchester in June, Mr Cox said the creation of a new law for entertainment venues was 'an integral move in our national security'.
He said he they would be campaigning for Martyn's Law to be included in political party manifestos ahead of any General Election.
Mr Cox told the M.E.N. after the meeting: "There is real momentum behind this now and we saw that in the meeting with the security minister.
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"Obviously there is a lot going on in politics at the moment.
"Our challenge will be how do we keep up the pressure and ensure that Martyn's Law is on the list of issues that need Parliamentary time.
"We came out of the meeting positive, but also knowing that our work must continue."
The campaign is being co-ordinated by Survivors Against Terror, which Mr Cox co-founded.
Much-loved PR manager Martyn, from Stockport, was 29.
An estimated 14,000 people, mainly teenagers and their families, attended the Ariana Grande concert on the night of May 22, 2017.
The bomb killed 22, injured more than 160 others and left many more with psychological and emotional trauma. It was the deadliest terror attack in the UK since the 7/7 London bombings in 2005.
A petition was launched by Mrs Murray after she visited a theatre and was concerned about the security arrangements.
