Upcoming UK Emergency Alerts test and Domestic Abuse

[Gfamily]

As people may know, there will be a UK nationwide test of its Emergency Alerts process on Sunday 23rd April, which will send an emergency alert message to all UK mobile phones which will cause them to sound a 10s Alert tone, regardless of the volume setting of the phone

A number of domestic abuse charities (as well as some P&CCs) have issued advice as to how to turn off Emergency Alerts, as many victims of domestic abuse have a phone that they keep secret from their abusive partner, and I want to put something up on our local neighbourhood Facebook group to share the advice.

Does anyone know whether simply keeping the phones in a metal biscuit tin (or equivalent) for the day of the test would be effective? I appreciate that the safest thing would be to turn off the alarms on the phone, but since at least some of the advice pages say "If that doesn't work contact your phone provider" - which might be a case of shutting the stable door after... etc. .

So if there's a quick and easy hit to make sure the alert isn't received, but without making the phone itself unusable for the day, it might be useful.

[dyqik]

Turning off the phone would be the easiest option, no more difficult than putting it in a box, and no less immediately usable than if it was in a box

[jimbob]

Turning off the phone would be the easiest option, no more difficult than putting it in a box, and no less immediately usable than if it was in a box

Airplane mode would also work

[monkey]

What dyqik said. If the phone is in a metal box, it may as well be off, so why not just turn it off?

This needs a more permanent solution. Once the alerts are in use and not just being tested, they could come at any time.

I understand the concern, but if a reassuring anecdote is needed, turning them off in the settings on my phone works for me in the USA* (I don't turn them all off, you get to choose which ones and some are more annoying than useful).


*My phone is a Pixel 4.

[monkey]

Also, regarding the barn doors, shouldn't the advice be to contact the phone provider if you think you need help getting the settings right?

[Gfamily]

Turning off the phone would be the easiest option, no more difficult than putting it in a box, and no less immediately usable than if it was in a box

My phone takes a couple of minutes to re-start, so 'turning it off' means it might be too late at the time it's actually needed. I'd guess that these phones are usually secreted somewhere from where it can be reasonably quickly retrieved in an emergency, but having to wait an extra couple of minutes for it to be restarted could be fatal.

[Gfamily]

Also, regarding the barn doors, shouldn't the advice be to contact the phone provider if you think you need help getting the settings right?

It's more that if "following the instructions" doesn't actually block the alarm on the day, by then it'll be too late for keeping the phone secret.

[dyqik]

Turning off the phone would be the easiest option, no more difficult than putting it in a box, and no less immediately usable than if it was in a box

My phone takes a couple of minutes to re-start, so 'turning it off' means it might be too late at the time it's actually needed. I'd guess that these phones are usually secreted somewhere from where it can be reasonably quickly retrieved in an emergency, but having to wait an extra couple of minutes for it to be restarted could be fatal.

A couple of minutes seems a very long time for a boot. Mine takes about 30 seconds.

[dyqik]

Turning off the phone would be the easiest option, no more difficult than putting it in a box, and no less immediately usable than if it was in a box

Airplane mode would also work

Yes, this will work, possibly provided it also turns off the Wi-Fi (which isn't a given - on my phone the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth stays in the same state they were last in when in flight mode).

(a hidden phone probably shouldn't be connected to home Wi-Fi any way, because it'll show up as connected on the router)

[shpalman]

On some older phones it might be the case that plugging something into the 3.5 mm jack socket would disable the speaker but of course I wouldn't rely on this. If the alert is able to override the volume settings then it might well also override any other audio setting.

[monkey]

gov.co.uk have this to say about who will not get an alert:

Reasons you will not get an alert

You will not receive alerts if your device is:

turned off or in airplane mode
connected to a 2G or 3G network
wifi only
not compatible

Compatible mobile phones and other devices

Make sure your device has all the latest software updates.

Emergency alerts work on:

iPhones running iOS 14.5 or later
Android phones and tablets running Android 11 or later
If you have an earlier version of Android, you may still be able to receive alerts. To check, search your device settings for ‘emergency alerts’.

clicky

So any of the discussed options (box, airplane mode, turning off) should work.

I know that it might be very difficult for some to get a new phone and it might be the apps and web access is the thing that's needed, but maybe a dumb phone is a solution for the long term. No alerts on those.

[monkey]

On some older phones it might be the case that plugging something into the 3.5 mm jack socket would disable the speaker but of course I wouldn't rely on this. If the alert is able to override the volume settings then it might well also override any other audio setting.

I have had one alert with my bluetooth headphones on. The noise came through those. I do not know if the noise also came out of my phone because all I could hear was the noise in my headphones going "baaap baaap baaaap".

[shpalman]

Limiting connectivity to 2G and 3G but disabiling 4G will also work then (assuming the UK isn't so technologically advanced that some parts of the country have phased out anything older than 4G, in which case it will still disable the alerts but it will also stop being a phone altogether).

[nekomatic]

As I understand it 3G is being phased out in favour of 4G, but basic GSM (‘2G’) coverage will stay in place.

[shpalman]

As I understand it 3G is being phased out in favour of 4G, but basic GSM (‘2G’) coverage will stay in place.

Set "2G/3G Auto" then.

[Stranger Mouse]

I foresee a lot of ruined matinee cinema performances.

[TimW]

Where's my alert then?

[Grumble]

I haven’t had one, but everyone else near me did

[Stranger Mouse]

Where's my alert then?

I’ve got two phones and haven’t received alerts on either

[Gfamily]

Where's my alert then?

I’ve got two phones and haven’t received alerts on either

Something to explain something
https://twitter.com/davwheat_/status/16 ... 3313085441
Thanks to Suw who retweeted it

[Stranger Mouse]

Where's my alert then?

I’ve got two phones and haven’t received alerts on either

Something to explain something
https://twitter.com/davwheat_/status/16 ... 3313085441
Thanks to Suw who retweeted it

Thanks. I saw that earlier- I’m on Smarty which is indeed Three so it fits

[veravista]

Mrs V got hers but I didn't. Both on O2, phones a couple of metres apart. Identical phones.....

[jimbob]

Mrs V got hers but I didn't. Both on O2, phones a couple of metres apart. Identical phones.....

My son didn't get his, he's on Gifgaff which is O2. I didn't either and I'm on O2

[veravista]

The gubment obviously don't think I'm worth saving

[jimbob]

The gubment obviously don't think