We interrupt this broadcast…

Next month the cabinet office is testing a new capability to send emergency alert messaging to all compatible mobile phones. There is no opt-in or opt-out option, but you can disable your phone from receiving them.

Here’s why I would implore you not to:

In the past year alone we, at the Emergencies Partnership, have supported partners who have responded to Storm Arwen in the North East that left hundreds without power, wildfires in the London borough of Havering that destroyed homes and endangered lives, gas explosions in Bethnal Green and knife attacks in Plymouth.

In all these instances, public safety has been compromised and incidents like these occur up and down the country on a basis far more regularly than ever makes the news.

On 22 May, 2017 I was in attendance at the Manchester Arena. I saw first-hand the impact, confusion and panic ripple away from the epicentre of the terror attack and in the aftermath, I watched misinformation and speculation spread online. Trusted sources of information were not quickly available to us.

The emergency alerts program serves to act as a warning, a 21st century update on the bomb sirens or television takeovers that “interrupt this broadcast…” but with more direct and geographically targeted messaging that may at worst inform through mild inconvenience (you have to acknowledge the alert for it to go away) and at best protect and save lives.

Alerts systems like this have been in operation in other countries for decades, the UK is finally catching up. Granted, we had seldom seen the types of emergencies such alerts are activated for, but they are happening more frequently and such a system empowers individuals to take responsive action, use the information as they see fit and keep themselves safe.

I understand there are flaws to the program, over recent weeks I’ve heard many voices raise concerns around the confusion it may cause, language barriers, or potential risk of harm to victims of domestic abuse that may conceal a phone for their safety.

This is why it’s vital that we inform all community members of the facts, work with the trusted voices of influence in our communities to enable them to confidently myth bust and challenge misinformation. It’s also important to raise communities’ legitimate concerns that we can feedback through government channels as we continue to work with the Cabinet Office and our network of partners.

Here is the top line information about the emergency alert program:

• The emergency alerts system will be testing/running a test on Sunday, 23 April
• You will hear a loud siren like sound and a message on your phone screen
• Only the government and emergency services can issue an alert message
• All compatible mobile phone handsets will receive the alert unless the function is disabled
• Alerts will use 4G and 5G to send out a message to all handsets within a defined location, whether you live there, are visiting or are even from another country, if you’re in range of the message and your phone is compatible it will come through
• You will have to acknowledge the alert for it to disappear from your screen, the same way you must stop or snooze an alarm you’ve set
• It does not trace, record or report your location. It is a one-way message
• The message will be available only in English or Welsh language

For further information and to read detailed FAQs on Emergency Alerts, visit gov.uk/alerts.