EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS
WHEN DISASTERS DRIVE CHANGE
Evac+Chair explains why inclusive evacuation can no longer be an afterthought.
In the UK, major advances in public safety have often followed tragedy. From terrorist attacks to catastrophic fires, large-scale incidents have exposed weaknesses in systems designed to protect people inside buildings. Although these events have prompted regulatory reform and higher safety expectations, turning lessons into lasting improvements has been slow. The question remains: has emergency planning evolved enough to ensure everyone can evacuate safely?
TRAGEDY AS A CATALYST FOR REFORM
In May 2017, a terrorist attack at Manchester Arena after an Ariana Grande concert killed 22 people and injured hundreds, exposing weaknesses in how public venues assess and manage risk.
The UK’s terrorism threat level has remained ‘substantial’ for years, meaning an attack is likely. Since 2017, 43 late- stage plots have been disrupted and around 15 attacks carried out. Counter Terrorism Policing also makes hundreds of arrests each year, highlighting the ongoing threat to public spaces.
After the Manchester Arena attack, campaigning by Figen Murray OBE, mother of victim Martyn Hett, led to Martyn’s Law – the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 – receiving Royal Assent in April 2025.
The legislation requires those responsible for publicly accessible premises to assess terrorism risk and implement proportionate protective measures. Venues are tiered by capacity, embedding risk assessment and planning into operations, with compliance required by April 2027.
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That same year, the Grenfell Tower fire exposed systemic failures in building safety and evacuation strategies. The tragedy claimed 72 lives, including 15 residents with mobility impairments, when the ‘stay put’ policy proved catastrophic.
The lesson was clear: evacuation strategies fail when a single safeguard breaks down.
Nearly a decade on, concerns around high-rise evacuation persist. The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025, effective 6 April 2026, require responsible persons to identify residents who may struggle to self-evacuate and offer a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment (PCFRA).
Other sectors have faced similar scrutiny. A 2017 fire at Newgrange Care Home in Hertfordshire caused two deaths and led to major fines, exposing failures in compartmentation and evacuation planning.
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