The UK is poised for a major test of its new nationwide public warning system. On Sunday, 23rd April, at precisely 3pm, the government will send a test alert to mobile phones across the country.
The system is designed to warn citizens of imminent threats to life in their immediate area, such as severe flooding, wildfires, or extreme weather. When operational, it will only be used in genuine emergencies.
What Will Happen During The Test?
For the test, compatible phones will emit a loud, siren-like sound that will ring for about ten seconds, even if the device is set to silent. A message will appear on the screen with instructions.
The alert will say: "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 a real 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."
Who Will Receive The Alert?
The test will be sent to virtually all 4G and 5G mobile phones in the United Kingdom. You will not receive it if your device is turned off, in airplane mode, or connected to a 2G or 3G network only.
The government has emphasised that the system is secure, and it will never collect personal data like your location or phone details.
Opting Out Of The System
If you do not wish to receive the alerts, you can opt out. To do this, you can search your phone’s settings for ‘emergency alerts’ and turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’. Alternatively, you can choose to silence the alert by pressing the volume or power button when it arrives, which will also stop the sound.
This new service brings the UK in line with other countries like the US, Canada, and Japan, which already have similar public warning systems in place.
