Lockdown Alarms

Lockdown alarms are used to protect people from threats such as:

• An intruder inside the building
• Active violence or armed individuals
• Dangerous individuals nearby
• Law enforcement activity requiring people to shelter in place

Unlike a fire alarm (which tells people to evacuate), a lockdown alarm tells people to stay inside and secure their area.

A lockdown alarm is a warning system used in places like schools, offices, hospitals, and public buildings to signal that there is a serious internal threat and that people should immediately secure themselves in a safe location.

Lockdown alarms exist to: 

• Provide fast, clear communication
• Reduce panic by giving structured instructions
• Increase safety by limiting access and movement 
• Give authorities time to respond 

They are part of broader emergency preparedness plans designed to minimize harm during high-risk situations

On 22 May 2017, a suicide bomber attacked concertgoers as they were leaving a show by Ariana Grande.

• 22 people were killed
• Hundreds were injured
• Many of the victims were children and young people

One of those killed was Martyn Hett, a 29-year-old from Stockport.

After the attack, Martyn’s mother, Figen Murray, campaigned for stronger security requirements at publicly accessible venues. The public inquiry into the attack found that there were missed opportunities to identify the threat and that security measures at the venue’s foyer were inadequate.

The campaign argued that:

• Many venues were not legally required to consider terrorist threats in their risk assessments
• Staff often lacked counter-terrorism awareness training
• Security planning was inconsistent across public spaces

The belief was that clearer, mandatory standards could reduce the likelihood or impact of future attacks.

Often referred to as the “Protect Duty,” the legislation is designed to:

• Require certain public venues and events to assess terrorism risks 
• Implement proportionate security measures
• Train staff on how to respond to an attack
• Improve preparedness and coordination with emergency services

The idea is prevention and preparedness, not turning premises into fortresses, but ensuring basic safety planning and response procedures become standard practice.