Emergency alert test today: WHEN and WHY your phone will go off
Your phone will go off for up to 10 seconds later today
The government will test its emergency alert system later today with warnings for drivers and theatre-goers.
Mobile phones will go off at 3pm today (April 23rd) as a test of a system designed to be used in life-threatening situations including flooding and wildfires.
Millions of mobile phones across the UK will emit a loud alarm and vibrate, even if they are set to silent.
It's likely to disrupt many sport and entertainment events, organisers of the World Snooker Championship will pause play just before 3pm at the Crucible in Sheffield and it will resume following the alert.
The Society of London Theatre (Solt) said it had shared the Government’s guidance with its members and advised them to tell attendees to turn off their phones to “minimise disruption to shows”.
Earlier this week the AA issued a warning to drivers reminding them it will still be illegal to pick up their mobiles while driving, even if the alert is sounding.
Domestic violence campaigners have also warned the test could put people in danger by revealing the location of secret phones hidden away by those at risk.
What will happen at 3pm?
The message will be received on 4G and 5G mobile phones, along with sound and vibration for up to 10 seconds.
Phone users will be prompted to acknowledge the alert by swiping or clicking the message before being able to continue using their device.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden said: “Getting this system operational with the national test means we have another tool in our toolkit to keep the public safe in life-threatening emergencies.
“It could be the sound that saves your life.”
The system is modelled on similar schemes in the US, Canada, the Netherlands and Japan.
National Fire Chiefs Council chairman Mark Hardingham said: “For 10 seconds the national test may be inconvenient for some, but please forgive us for the intrusion because, the next time you hear, it your life, and the life-saving actions of our emergency services, could depend on it.”
Can you disable the alarm?
People who do not wish to receive the alerts will be able to opt out in their device settings, but officials hope the life-saving potential of the messages means that users will keep them on.
The National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) warned people with hidden second mobile phones to turn off the alerts to avoid revealing the location of their devices.
NCDV’s Sharon Bryan said: “Hidden second mobiles are an emergency lifeline for victims and survivors living under the constant threat of abuse, or worse.
“This siren test may unexpectedly reveal their presence to abusers – with disastrous consequences.”
The Government said it has been actively engaging with organisations working with vulnerable women and girls to ensure they are not adversely affected by the introduction of emergency alerts.
Officials stressed that it is easy to opt out of the system if people need their phone to stay concealed, either by turning off the alerts or simply having the phone switched off during the test.