Domestic abuse victims urged to turn off hidden phones ahead of alert test
An East Ayrshire councillor has given the warning before Sunday's national emergency alarm.
East Ayrshire women facing domestic abuse have been advised to turn off any hidden phones ahead of a national emergency alert test on Sunday.
The UK Emergency Alerts system has been created to warn people of imminent danger to life, and will sound at 3pm across the country.
Mobile phones and tablets may make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent, vibrate or read out the alert. This will last around 10 seconds.
Women’s Aid have warned the test could reveal hidden phones, which can be a lifeline for women faced with domestic violence, potentially escalating the abuse.
Councillor Graham Barton, who is East Ayrshire Council’s spokesperson for equalities said: “On the 23rd of April, there is going to be an emergency broadcast. Sufferers of domestic abuse generally have a phone that is hidden away.
“It doesn’t matter is the phone is on silent, it is going to trigger it.
“On 23 April, please get that phone turned off so it is not triggered.”
EAC chief executive Eddie Fraser confirmed that the council would look to get the message out.
Switch phone to airplane mode or turn off
Scottish Women’s Aid said: “For women experiencing domestic abuse, having access to a secret phone can be a lifeline. The upcoming Emergency Alerts test could reveal the location of hidden phones to abusers.
“You can stop the alert by switching devices off or putting them on airplane mode.”
A spokesperson for Women’s Aid said: ““We are concerned about the impact of the emergency alerts system on survivors of domestic abuse.
For many survivors, a second phone which the perpetrator does not know about is an important form of communication with friends or family – as some abusers confiscate or monitor and control their partner’s phone.
"It may also be their only lifeline in emergencies. The emergency alerts pose a risk, not only because an abuser could discover a survivors’ second phone, but also because they could use this as a reason to escalate abuse.”