A UK-wide test of the life-saving public Emergency Alerts system will take place at 15:00 on Sunday 23rd April, it has been confirmed.
Islanders will be among those who will receive a message on the home screen of their mobile phone, along with sound and vibration for up to 10 seconds.
For the test, the public does not need to take any action – the sound and vibration will stop automatically. All people need to do is swipe away the message or click ‘OK’ on their phone’s home screen – just like for a ‘low battery’ warning or notification – and continue to use their phone as normal.
The alerts do not rely on SMS (text) messaging – so even those with poor mobile signal will still receive the message if connected to a cell tower. However, the alerts will only work on 4G and 5 G-enabled phones.
In case of a real emergency, the alerts can be targeted down to the area of an electoral ward, meaning instructions can be given when there is a threat to life and specific action can be taken.
The Government has stopped short of explicitly saying they could be used in marauding firearms attacks and other terror incidents, but there is a strong indication that this is a consideration. The alerts will also be used for weather-related incidents such as flooding and wildfires.
Reassurances have been given that the alert system won’t be used for general messaging – it will only ever be used in an emergency – so people may not receive an alert for months or years. Furthermore, system processes mean that the alert is written by 1 individual, but then sent by another in order to prevent mistakes and misuse of the new system, which has been described as ‘another tool in the toolbox’.
All messages will be sent out by central Government.
Mark Hardingham, Chair of The National Fire Chiefs Council, said:
“We must use every tool at our disposal to keep people safe, and we need everyone to play their part – and the new Emergency Alerts system is one way we can do this. For 10 seconds, the national test may be inconvenient for some, but please forgive us for the intrusion, because the next time you hear it – your life, and the life-saving actions of our emergency services, could depend on it.”
Assistant Chief Constable Owen Weatherill, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Civil Contingencies, has said:
“Warning and informing the public at speed during times of crises can be vital. We look forward to further developing the use of the Emergency Alerts capability and how it can have real benefits for the public to protect and preserve life, as well as supporting policing’s wider response to critical incidents with partner agencies. Alongside partners, we will continue to listen carefully to public feedback and ensure the use of Emergency Alerts has a positive impact.”
I am so pleased I do not own a smart phone.
What a load of nonsense.
Best you all cuddle your loved ones the night before the 23 April now.
All but the most naive know this is all about trying to save as many lives as they can from the increased likely hood of a nuclear strike, as HMG know the panic IF it admitted the risk is now critically high would then cause todays cosseted citizens.
Issue now is Putin now knows what time this nuclear alert is going to be given, and if planning a nuclear attack on the UK as a warning to other lands to ‘butt out’ helping Ukraine, what ‘better’ time to drop the devices, as all will just assume the warning is fake and millions will die pointlessly.
I shall take my doors off on the 22nd April and fill the sand bags or pillow cases to place on top of them.
Perhaps you could get some of your pet Gabion cages out to protect your doors.
You may mock, but Gabion cages filled with smaller stones if used to line bomb shelter walls far far reduce the risk of getting crushed by large lumps of masonry as only small stones can fall on you.
If lead sheeting is used to surround the Gabion cages, a high degree of protection is found in Gabion cage walling in Nuclear shelters too.
I made one for the cat.
Just turn your phone off at 14.55.
If people didn’t own smart phones the world would be normal
like it use to be.
Ditch the phone, not needed.
Use cash.
Smart phones will finish mankind
Utterly stupid comment for the sake of it.
Very wise words, i V Searle
You twit, what good would this alert be to a nuclear attack in any event. Oh yes let me go down into my concrete lined and fully supplied nuclear fallout bunker. As if your pillow cases will protect you from the ionising radiation.
If this was the case i V Searle , why is this alert going to lock people out of their phones. until they give permission for the alert to look at your personal details.
No need to be dramatic and make everyone nervous. All it is for is to alert you to an alien invasion that is expected soon, so relax. Don’t you just hate scare mongers’.
You sir are weird…
Oh boy, are you going to look stupid on the 23rd.
You will not see me, as your eyes will be blinded by radiation.
Rubbish,it’s all about control from this government the WEF and the elites.We are well on our way to ending up like North Korea.Personally I’d prefer to be nuked than what’s really coming
So true, by 2030 the world population will be approx
1/2 billion
What a load of SH1T. So if you dont own a 4 or 5G phone then,or you dont use these, then hard luck your dead. I guess all fire crews and coastguard plus police from around the Island will be called as they always do. The cost to the tax payer is mad. Like the man suck in mud at St Helens all those firemen (3 units) being called and paid for what, a waste of time and money for us all.
If a sms alert is sent out everyone connected to that cell will receive it.
Why the government discrimination against people who expect their phone to fit into a shirt pocket and run for several days on one charge?
Given how hopelessly useless/broken our government is now, how low would the bar be for them to utilise this intrusive nonsense? Just look at how mad they went with the sniffly Covid hysteria. How often would this system have been used with that??
Thankfully we still (at the moment) have the ability to turn this Orwellian system off in settings.
Nothing to do with our government, its happening throughout Europe also.
They too are run by the WEF
What a load of utter crap!
This is a war alert! Can’t people see this Weather warning I don’t think so
It will stop automatically…if you carry out this task. There is an emergency alert setting on all phones that you can turn this off by the way!
This rubbish is designed to keep people in constant fear and have a level of control over people.
You can disable this on iPhone
Turn Government Alerts on or offBy default, Government Alerts are turned on for your device.2 When you receive a government alert, you’ll hear a special sound that’s similar to an alarm. If you want to turn these alerts on or off, follow these steps:
If someone has sent a nuke I’d rather not know as 30 seconds of panic before I get vaporized doesn’t change a thing.
More jabs are coming from what I read on the Mail
due to warmer weather.
The Sheep will be pleased, roll up roll up for no. 6
I will go down to my shed at the bottom of the garden and lock the door. If there isn’t a blinding white flash after, say an hour, then I will come back up again.
I think the alert will let us know that Island Roads have found the yellow paint
and will be placing double yellow lines outside the old council houses along
Great Preston Road to finally Stop idiots parking on Pavements.
Roll on 23rd
St George will be pleased.
I doubt it very much
The idiot who owns a Yellow car is still parked on the pavement
O/s 90 Great Preston Rd Ryde bringing the Road to a standstill
Roads are designed for vehicles to pass each other freely
Not on the Island.
Also pavements are for pedestrians not Idiots who park vehicles on them.
I doubt it very much
The idiot who owns a Yellow car is still parked on the pavement
O/s 90 Great Preston Rd Ryde bringing the Road to a standstill
Roads are designed for vehicles to pass each other freely
Not on the Island.
Also pavements are for pedestrians not Idiots who park vehicles on them
Instead of moaning about it, anyone who doesn’t want to receive it can turn off Emergency Notifications beforehand.
Why the need to cause a big fuss about it? Just like any notifications, you can turn them on or off.
I knew this would start the gammons and trolls off. So predictable