Domestic abuse victims urged to disable Government’s emergency alert system

[yourhairiswinterfire]

Just sharing this here and hoping others can share wherever you can as I haven't seen this warning in mainstream media.

On Sun 23rd April, smartphones in the UK will receive a 10 second test alert, which will be a siren-like alarm and vibration even if your phone is on silent.

But concerns have been raised that those who have secret phones hidden from their abusers could be put at increased risk should the alert go off.
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Victims’ Commissioner Nicky Brennan said: “I know first hand of many victims of domestic abuse who have a concealed phone as a lifeline, allowing them to keep in touch with friends and family or to be used in an emergency.

“While the emergency alert system is understandable, it is also vital we raise awareness that this can be switched off for those who need it.
“I urge anybody who has a concealed phone for their own safety to switch off these alerts.”

Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner Tom McNeil added: “Sadly too many people, particularly women, are living with an abusive partner and find themselves needing to have secret phones in case of an emergency. That’s why we’re working to raise awareness on how to switch this alert off in case you are put at increased risk from a partner finding out you have a secret or secondary phone.

“Even if your phone is set to silent it will still go off, so please see our guidance on how to disable the alerts.”

https://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/domestic-abuse-victims-urged-to-disable-governments-emergency-alert-system/

Wouldn't it make more sense to send out texts to everyone in the coming weeks warning them this is about to happen? Before you potentially put people in danger all over the place?

I was thinking that. what if people are driving or something?

That would be better, yes.

Wow I never even considered this.

At one point my abusive ex kept me home most of the time and isolated just after I had a baby. He was there when I saw family or had appointments. We didn't have a tv licence I would not have seen it on the news. If I had a secret phone even with it all over social media I would have been caught out.

I hope everyone hears before it happens

Thanks for posting that @yourhairiswinterfire thankfully i'm not in the position of having to turn it off for the sake of safety, I just can't stand my phone disturbing me.

In any case, what is it they think they're going to warn people about?
Weather? Met office usually warn us days in advance, as does leccy company, if they think there's a danger to supply due to bad weather.
Asteroids? Getting a text to say an asteroid is about to land on your head isn't going to save you and nor would a warning of an imminent nuclear attack, so what's the point?!

@EpicChaos from what I've read, basically they'll only have clearance to warn about severe weather initially, which in some areas it could be a good thing re flooding type things. Need to evacuate etc.

Can you post this on the other boards please . OP

I've no idea how to do a link or I'd do it myself.

So bloody sad how others have to live.

@MarchMadness23 The thing with flash floods/beck banks breaking, etc., is that generally speaking, they can't be predicted, so you'd think that the usual stuff from the Met Office would have as much of an effect.
I shall be following the instructions as to how to turn it off and it won't be getting turned on again. That said, I don't live in area likely to be affected by any flooding and if it's aliens, i'll be dumping the phone, so that they can't track any signals, lol.

Will do!

Especially the relationships board

thanks @yourhairiswinterfire

Hmmm... I hadn't heard of this. To be honest I thought it was a scam message and had to Google it.
Your life is in danger, pick up the phone now!!!!

@EpicChaos But the met office is only any good if people go looking for the information. Plus this can be very specific about where there's a 'life & death' situation. So for example instead of just saying 'heavy rain expected in the NE, they can say, heavy rain in your area, xyz river expected to flood, residents in XYZ streets need to evacuate.

more recently our local common was on fire, at 2 in the morning my friend was woken up by firemen telling them it was best if they evacuate because of the smoke coming their way.

apparently most/many other countries have had this for years. I suppose as climate change is seemingly having a huge affect on our weather, the UK thought it better get on board.

As they said, after thins test, it may not be used again for years (if ever), but they feel it's worth having.

Obviously the option is there to turn it off and it's your prerogative to do so.

Im going to leave it on, my FOMO is currently stronger than my fear of it going off & frightening the 💩 out of me, but if that changes, I'll turn it off.

(it works in relation to where your phone is, not where you live, so if for example you go camping next to a river in rainy weather you can temporarily turn it back on)

im not sure what I'll do if 👽 (aliens) are expected?! Hide/run/go meet them?! But by the time the Govt/committee/whatever agrees a message should be sent they'll probably have made their presence known 😂😂

I suppose there's gonna be a few adulterers with egg on their faces too.🤨

Does the alert still go off if your phone is switched off?

I can see the purpose of this, having lived at one time in a town that flooded regularly. After a disaster of emergency services hammering on the doors of confused and sleepy people who couldn't see water yet and went back to bed, and then needed rescuing in boats two hours later when their downstairs rooms were waist deep in water, I can see the point of this. Flood sirens were also installed, but people still don't take much notice and assume it's being tested/ nothing to do with them.

Sorry, not enough coffee yet - meant to say thanks OP, will share this widely for women who need to disable their phone for safety.

Sorry, not enough coffee yet - meant to say thanks OP, will share this widely for women who need to disable their phone for safety.

Sorry, not enough coffee yet - meant to say thanks OP, will share this widely for women who need to disable their phone for safety.

No, it won't go off if your phone is turned off or in airplane mode.

That's fair enough and entirely up to you @MarchMadness23 and others like @nilsmousehammer if it will be of use at any time, just as things stand, i'd rather have the peace and quiet. Quite understandable though, if you're in a known flooding spot, @nilsmousehammer thankfully i'm not, so i can just forget it exists.

I’ve lived in the USA and had these kind of notifications. The one about the tornado in my area and head for shelter NOW certainly got my attention! I also had them to notify of a missing child and to keep a lookout for them.

it’s a good system. As well as flooding I can think of things like that dam that had structural integrity issues, or the wildfires that burned houses. They can also be used if there’s a major incident like terrorist attack or gunmen at large to warn and instruct people.

it’s the kind of facility you hope you’ll never have to use, but is vital these days.

Do you have to register or anything for this alert thing? I'd like to let my parents know as they'll be really confused.

Are their phones smartphones?

You don't register, the news are reporting it'll go out to all compatible phones. Most smartphones come with emergency alerts/notifications enabled, and you have to go to settings to disable them.

I imagine it'll frighten many people who haven't heard about it.

Thank you @yourhairiswinterfire yes my dad just renewed his contract so has a fancy Samsung that none of us know how to use very well 😂
Thank you for the threads 😊