Emergency Alerts & Domestic Abuse

The Scottish Government is taking part in a trial of a new UK government Emergency Alert System. On Sunday, 23^rd April at 3pm there will be a national test of the UK emergency alerts service.

Here’s what you need to know…

Emergency alerts will be used to let the public know about emergency situations, such as severe weather warnings. They will work like a radio broadcast. In an emergency, every compatible mobile phone or tablet in a range of a mast will receive the alert.

When you get an Emergency Alert you will hear a loud, siren-like sound and your phone will use a distinct vibration. A message will appear on your screen and will remain there until you acknowledge it.

It is very important to be aware that the Emergency Alerts will sound even on devices set to silent. For those living with domestic abuse, this may reveal a hidden, secret, secondary phone used for safety purposes.

FOR SOME PEOPLE A SECOND, SILENT PHONE IS A SAFE PHONE. YOU CAN OPT OUT OF EMERGENCY ALERTS.

If you have a hidden, silent, secondary phone and it is not safe for you to receive emergency alerts, you can opt out and turn these alerts off before the test on Sunday, 23^rd April. To do this, search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’. Turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.

Refuge have put together a helpful video which can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2MBcHwmiy8

For more information: https://www.gov.uk/alerts To find out more about how the alerts work and check if your device is compatible: https://www.gov.uk/alerts/how-alerts-work#compatible-devices

If you are concerned about this, please contact us Monday-Friday 9am-5pm on: 0345 408 0151, info@caswa.org.uk or via the “Contact us” button on our website.

Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline is available 24/7 and can be reached on: 0800 027 1234. More information can be found on their website: https://www.sdafmh.org.uk/en/