Date And Time Set For UK's First Nationwide Test Of Emergency Alert System

Thursday, 6 April 2023 14:16

By Sky News

A nationwide test of the UK's emergency alert service will take place at 3pm on Sunday 23 April.

Messages will pop up on mobile phones across the country, along with a sound and vibration that will stop automatically after 10 seconds.

People will just need to tap "OK" or swipe away the notification like any other, with no further action required.

The alert will make a sound even if a person's phone is switched on to silent.

It is the first nationwide trial of the service, following pilots in East Suffolk and Reading.

The government said it would be used in "life-threatening emergencies", including extreme weather events like the wildfires and flooding seen last year.

Similar services are already being used in countries like the US, Canada, and Japan.

Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said the alert could one day "be the sound that saves your life".

The government said the test was important as it would make sure people can recognise a real alert, which would provide clear instructions about how to respond in an emergency.

But they are expected to be sent very rarely, only when there is an immediate threat to life, so it may be months or years before you receive one.

Assistant chief constable Owen Weatherill, of the National Police Chiefs' Council, said emergency services would "listen carefully to public feedback" from the test to ensure any future alerts have "a positive impact".

Concerns for domestic abuse victims

There are concerns the alert could be detrimental to victims of domestic abuse who have a concealed phone hidden from their abuser.

The government said it has been working with organisations who focus on vulnerable women and girls to ensure they are not adversely affected.

People who need their phones to remain concealed have been told they can opt out of the system, or should turn the phone off ahead of 3pm on Sunday.

How to opt out

On iPhones and Android phones and tablets, people can search settings for "emergency alerts" and turn off "severe alerts" and "emergency alerts".

On Huawei devices running EMUI 11 or older, search settings for "emergency alerts" and turn off "extreme threats", "severe threats", and "show amber alerts".

Driving concerns

The RAC has raised concerns the alert could cause panic for people driving when it goes off, especially as it is taking place on a Sunday when there are more inexperienced drivers on the road.

Drivers can also be hit with six penalty points and a £200 fine if they hold and use a phone while on the road.

Link to full story: https://news.sky.com/story/date-and-time-set-for-uks-first-nationwide-test-of-emergency-alert-system-12850485