There are concerns that the emergency alert system ‘puts victims of domestic violence at risk’

This Sunday (April 23) at exactly 3pm the sky will be filled with a strange siren and the sound of people scratching their pockets and pockets as a nationwide emergency alert goes off on most phones and tablets in the UK.

It’s part of a state test by the National Alarm, a warning system that deploys when there’s a threat to life in the area and sounds loudly even if a device is silenced.

The danger could come from severe flooding, fire or extreme weather – and it is hoped that the warnings could be used to announce a terrorist attack at some point in the future. Notifications are based on your current location, even if location services are not enabled.

The Sunday alarm is only a test and the real siren will only be activated by emergency services or government services/government agencies dealing with crisis situations.

But domestic violence charities have warned that the warning puts victims of abuse at risk, as some have a secret smartphone they use to access support.

Several charities, including Refuge and the National Center on Domestic Violence, are urging people living with offenders to turn off alarms or turn off their phones altogether.

If you want to disable this alert for any reason, follow the steps below.

How to disable the emergency alert

To turn off the alarm, do the following before 3 p.m. on Sunday:

  • Look for “Emergency Alerts” in your settings.
  • Disable major alerts and extreme alerts

You can’t use your phone until you click to acknowledge the warning (Photo: PA)

You will also not receive a message if:

  • Your phone is off or in airplane mode
  • You are connected to a 2G or 3G network
  • You only use WiFi (i.e. not connected to a network)
  • Only phones and tablets with iOS 14.5/Android 11 or later will receive the notification

Please note that for your own safety, the government recommends that you heed the warnings.

How does the emergency alarm sound?

The emergency alert is a siren-like howl from your phone or tablet that lasts about 10 seconds. It will be very loud regardless of your phone’s volume, including mute.

When you get a notification, your phone or tablet can also vibrate or read the message aloud.

It looks and sounds very different from other posts.

The notification will remain on screen until you confirm it by swiping or clicking, and you will not be able to use your phone normally until you do so.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden, said: “Getting this system up and running with the national test gives us another tool in our toolkit to protect the public during life-threatening emergencies.

“It may be the sound that saves your life.”

Emergency alerts are already being used in a number of other countries, including the US, Canada, the Netherlands and Japan, and have already been tested in the UK in Reading and East Suffolk.