Emergency alert test – live: Second alarm shock as investigation launched

Users ‘scared to death’ by 2.30am alert

Moment emergency alert test goes off at London Marathon

It was a patchy launch for the test of the government’s new emergency alert system, with reports of some users being woken up by the booming alarm in the early hours of Monday morning.

While the alert was scheduled to go out at 3pm on Sunday, some people said they did not receive the notification, while others reported the alert arriving early or late.

One mobile user told The Independent they had not received the alert on Sunday afternoon, but 2.30am on Monday.

Others took to social media with similar tales, with one user exclaiming: “Why have I just received a 2nd severe alert notification at 2:30 am? Nightmare!

“Scared me to death!!” they added.

Professor of telecommunications, Nigel Linge, said that it is not surprising the emergency alert did not work “perfectly”.

Speaking to Good Morning Britain, he said: “It is not unusual that a test of this type did not work perfectly. That is what you expect. I don’t think anyone in the mobile phone industry would be surprised that it wasn’t perfect.”

The Cabinet Office said it would be reviewing the outcome of the UK-wide test of the new emergency alert system.

Key Points

• Emergency alert: Users ‘scared to death’ after second alarm booms at 2.30am
• Government reveals why phone users received alarm at different times
• Emergency alert goes off minute early for some - and not at all for others
• Government to review outcome of emergency alert test
• ‘This sound could save your life,’ claims government minister

[23 April 2023 19:32 · Martha Mchardy]

How to turn off the emergency alert on iPhone and Android

On an iPhone, open up the Settings app and type “emergency alerts” in the search bar. That should bring up the option to turn off “Severe alerts” and Emergency alerts”.

On an Android device, once again go to the settings app and search for emergency alerts. The wording of the switch might depend a little on what version you are using, but will usually be something like “emergency alerts”, and have the option to turn it off.

Devices that are switched off, connected to WiFi only, or using a 2G or 3G network will not receive the alert. It also requires more recent operating systems, though any device that has received updates from the last few years should be compatible.

[23 April 2023 20:00 · Martha Mchardy]

What is the emergency alert system for?

The system is intended to be used in life-threatening situations including flooding and wildfires but some Britons have now raised concerns that the alerts would not be a success given a large proportion of people did not receive it.

The message was sent to 4G and 5G mobile phones, with sound and vibration for up to 10 seconds.

Phone users were prompted to acknowledge the alert by swiping or clicking the message before being able to continue using their device.

Speaking before the test, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden conceded the drill could be “annoying”, but that it had the potential to save people’s lives once rolled out.

He told Sky News that the trial run was a “bit like when the fire alarm goes off at work”.

“It’s a bit irritating at the time but in the future people could be grateful for it because in a real emergency, this could be the sound that saves your life,” he said.

The Cabinet minister denied the new system was an example of nanny state interference, telling the BBC he did not accept “that characterisation”.

[23 April 2023 20:30 · Martha Mchardy]

Voices: This is why I’m worried about today’s unprecedented emergency alert

For women in this situation, their phone, which they once considered a lifeline, could in fact be their enemy, writes Alexis Strum.

[23 April 2023 21:00 · Martha Mchardy]

Why did some people get the emergency alert one minute early?

While the alert was scheduled to go out at 3pm, many mobile phone users complained that they received the alert at 2.59pm – startling or scaring them because it went off earlier than expected.

The Independent understands it happened because the alert had to go through different infrastructure used by mobile operators – which don’t all operate at the same speed.

A government source said they always expected it to be “around 3pm” because of the differences in the operators’ networks.

[23 April 2023 21:30 · Martha Mchardy]

Three responds after phone users complain they did not receive emergency alert

In a statement, a Three spokesperson said: “We are aware that a number of customers have not received the test alert.

“We are working closely with the government to understand why and ensure it doesn’t happen when the system is in use.”

[23 April 2023 22:00 · Martha Mchardy]

Review announced into emergency alert system

A review will be conducted to find out why some mobile phones did not receive the test of a new national emergency alert system on Sunday.

The Cabinet Office said the “vast majority of compatible phones” received the alert as part of what was said to be the biggest public communications exercise carried out in the UK.

But the Government department said it was aware that the 10-second alarm and message notification was not delivered to some mobile phones.

Customers on the Three mobile phone network were among those to report not receiving the communication test.

The network provider said it would be working with the UK Government to understand what had happened.

[23 April 2023 23:00 · Martha Mchardy]

Voices: I’m a survivor of domestic abuse – here’s why the government’s emergency alert poses a threat

My abuser prevented me from using a phone, and I know that if he’d ever caught me using a secret phone, there would have been severe repercussions.

Read the full story:

[24 April 2023 00:00 · Martha Mchardy]

Watch: Moment emergency alert test goes off at London Marathon

[24 April 2023 01:00 · Martha Mchardy]

Government releases statement after first ever emergency alert test

The government has released a statement after millions of people across the country received the first-ever nationwide test of the government’s new emergency alert system today.

A UK government spokesman said: “We have effectively completed the test of the UK-wide Emergency Alerts system, the biggest public communications exercise of its kind ever done.

“We are working with mobile network operators to review the outcome and any lessons learned.”

[24 April 2023 02:00 · Martha Mchardy]

ICYMI: Emergency government alert goes off across the UK amid reports of delays