Community Interest Company NCDV (National Centre for Domestic Violence) has added its voice to growing public concerns over plans to test the new national emergency alert system during the evening of April 23.
At some point during the evening, around 90% of all the mobile phones in the United Kingdom will go off, emitting a loud siren noise for 10 seconds, even if devices are switched to silent mode.
‘Disastrous consequences’
The issue that troubles many women’s groups and domestic abuse and violence organisations is over many domestic abuse victims and survivors’ use of ‘secret’ emergency mobiles.
Sharon Bryan, head of Partnerships and Development at NCDV, 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 test
The government’s emergency alert system is being implemented to keep the public safe in time of crisis; it is designed to relay important information to individuals in affected areas.
When a crisis occurs, such as a natural disaster or a security threat, authorised personnel can quickly send out alerts to individuals in the affected area.
These alerts may include information on the nature of the threat, instructions on how to stay safe and other details.
On Sunday 23 April, after the siren has sounded, all mobile phone users will receive the following notification:
“This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.
“In an actual emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.
“Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information.
“This is a test. You do not need to take any action.”
Recipients will need to acknowledge that they have seen the alert before they can use their phones normally again.
Users can opt out of receiving the emergency alerts, but the government strongly urges them not to because the alerts are potentially lifesaving.
Emergency alerts will not be sent to phones that only use 3G or 2G, meaning anyone with an older phone or perhaps not a smart phone, will not receive the alert.
Sharon Bryan said: “Many people will know nothing about the planned emergency alert system – but those who are victims/survivors of domestic abuse may be shocked and terrified to hear their ‘secret’ phone suddenly going off.
“For some, this may lead to further abuse and violence.
“We are trying to reach as many victims/survivors with second phones as we can to alert them to the risk of their phones being revealed by the test – and to urge them to turn off the alerts on their secret second phones, before Sunday 23 April.
“If people are unsure as to whether an alert will sound on an older mobile, we say they should switch it off until the following day if they feel safe to do so.”
Wider concern
Other domestic abuse organisations around the county have also voiced their concern around the government’s alert test.
Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service domestic abuse charity issued a warning saying: “Please be aware that an emergency alert on all phones will be activated with a loud alert on the evening of April 23.
“If you have a secret phone that you hide from an abusive partner, you will need to take steps to deactivate the test.”
Advising women online, Refuge said: “If you’re living with an abusive partner, this could put you at risk because it could let your partner know about a secret or secondary phone.
“Even if your phone is on silent, the emergency alert will still make a sound.”
The charity said its tech safety team has put together an online guide on how to turn the alerts off, both for Android and for iPhones.
Image credit: ddisq/Shutterstock
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