The British government said on Sunday that a siren-like alert will be sent to mobile phone users across the country next month to test a warning system about life-threatening events such as severe weather.

Edited by | Anna Sam

World section - CJ  journalist

03/19/2023 - 10:01:00 PM

     A UK-wide Alerts test is taking place early in the evening on Sunday, April 23, which will see people receive a test message on their mobile phones. The government said the new emergency alerts would be used very rarely, being sent only when there is an immediate threat to people's lives, so people may not receive an alert for months or even years. Although not currently covered, terrorism alerts can also be added to the list of potential events.

Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Dowden said:

"We are strengthening protection with a new system of emergency alerts, to deal with a wide range of threats, from floods to wildfires."
And he said:
"It will revolutionize our ability to warn and notify people in imminent danger and help us keep people safe. As we've seen in the US and elsewhere, a ringing phone can save lives."

The Cabinet Office said that working with mobile broadcast technology would provide a means to quickly deliver urgent messages to nearly 90 percent of mobile phones in a specified area and provide clear instructions on how best to respond.

The UK-wide launch follows successful tests in East Suffolk and Reading as part of an action plan against an "ever-evolving" set of threats.

The news in detail...

"We are strengthening protection with a new system of emergency alerts, to deal with a wide range of threats, from floods to bushfires," said Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden. "It will revolutionize our ability to warn and notify people in imminent danger and help us keep people safe," he said. "As we've seen in the United States and elsewhere, a ringing phone can save lives."

The Cabinet Office said that working with mobile broadcast technology would provide a means to quickly deliver urgent messages to nearly 90 percent of mobile phones in a specified area and provide clear instructions on how best to respond.

The UK-wide launch follows successful tests in East Suffolk and Reading as part of an action plan against an "ever-evolving" set of threats.

"Alerts will only come from the government or emergency services and they will issue a warning and always include details of the affected area and give guidance on how best to respond," the UK Cabinet Office said.

The service has already been used in a number of other countries, including the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, and Japan, where it is widely credited with saving lives, for example, during severe weather events.

Alerts are broadcast from cell towers near the emergency and the alerts are described as "safe and free". The government said it does not disclose anyone's location or collect personal data and alerts can only be sent by authorized users of government and emergency services.

The emergency alerts will be used across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland and their initial use will focus on the most serious weather-related incidents, including severe flooding in England. The British government said it was working closely with a range of stakeholders and partners across the UK to develop the system, including colleagues from emergency services, transport groups, and the Environment Agency.