UK Emergency Alerts
You may be aware from recent media reports that there will be a test of the UK-wide Emergency Alert system at 3pm on Sunday 23 April 2023. This is a test only and you do not need to take any emergency action during this time.
Emergency alerts work like a radio broadcast. In an emergency, mobile phone masts in the affected areas will broadcast an alert. Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast will receive the alert. This enables alerts to be targeted at a specific area or region of the country by selecting specific masts in a given geographical area to broadcast it.
Most 4G and 5G devices released since 2015 are compatible with the emergency alerts system.
An Emergency Alert will look and sound different to other types of mobile phone messages.
When you get an Emergency Alert you will hear a loud, siren-like sound and your phone will use a distinct vibration for up to 10 seconds. You can hear what the alert will sound like on this explainer video.
A few things to note:
- A message will appear on your screen and will remain there until you acknowledge it.
- You will not get alerts if your device is turned off or in flight mode but it will still sound if your phone is on silent.
- If you’re driving, riding or operating machinery when you get an alert, you should find somewhere safe to stop or stop using the machine before using your phone or tablet.
While the UK Government has funded and owns the system, during the trial the Scottish Government will focus on developing the processes and procedures to make it work effectively in Scotland.
The UK-wide trial will run until the end of June 2023 and in Scotland alerts will only be issued for very severe weather emergencies – for example when it affects a large geographical or heavily populated area or where already challenging conditions are expected to suddenly deteriorate.
Some more things to note:
- Emergency alerts will only be send in Scotland by the emergency services and Scottish Government.
- Alerts are sent to mobile phones based on geographical location.
- No data about you, your phone or your location is needed and no data will be collected or shared.
You can opt out of emergency alerts, but it is recommended that you keep them switched on for your own safety.
To opt out:
a. Search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’.
b. Turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.
If you still get alerts, contact your device manufacturer for help.
For more info please visit: gov.uk/alerts.