How to turn phone alerts off ahead of Government's emergency message

23 April 2023 , 06:51

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Some Brits may be keen to avoid the alert (Image: GOV.UK)

The national test of the UK Emergency Alerts service is due to take place on Sunday at 3pm, but some Brits may want to avoid the warning.

Some may choose to opt-out for a number of reasons and some charities are even warning it could be dangerous for domestic abuse survivors.

People who experience abuse may have a second phone they use to call for help and some experts are winning people to turn the alert off.

Emma Pickering, senior operations manager for the technology-facilitated abuse and economic empowerment team at charity Refuge said survivors can't use an "everyday phone."

She said: "We know that perpetrators are monitoring devices to make sure that they're not contacting agencies, they're not sharing any information with anybody to say that they're a victim, they're not trying to seek help or plan to leave the relationship.

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Charity Refuge says domestic abuse survivors may want to turn off the alerts (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"So they can't use that everyday phone. They have to have a safe device hidden somewhere that they can use to contact agencies when it's safe to do so."

The charity hands out around four burner phones a week to those seeking help

So how might Brits turn off the alert?

How to turn off emergency alerts

The alert is scheduled for 3pm tomorrow (Getty Images)

Brits wanting to avoid receiving the alert test can opt out by going into settings on their phone.

To opt-out:

• Search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’.
• Turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.

Despite the option to turn alerts off, the government recommends they remain on. They can be used n the future to warn people of impending dangers like severe flooding, extreme weather, and fires.

Only the emergency services and government departments, agencies and bodies can send alerts.

It said: "You can opt out of emergency alerts, but you should keep them switched on for your own safety."

It added: "Android phones and tablets may get more than one reminder about the same emergency alert. You can turn these reminders off through the ‘emergency alerts’ settings on your device."

Will I get an emergency alert?

Only those in aeroplane mode, on WiFi only or devices connected to a "G or 3G network will not get the alerts.

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Phones cannot be turned on by the release of the alert so those with their devices switched off will not receive it.

"Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast will receive the alert," the government said.

The test will take place at 3pm and an alert will be broadcast to every mobile device within range of phone masts in the surrounding area.

The government says it does not require anyone's phone number to send the alert.

Benjamin Lynch