The boss at Newcastle Women's Aid has warned people at risk of domestic abuse to turn off secret mobile phones ahead of the first nationwide test of a new emergency alert system this weekend.
Elaine Langshaw said that many domestic violence victims kept a hidden pay-as-you go mobile phone to help them access help in an emergency, but there are fears that the test, which takes place at 3pm on Sunday, April 23, could give away the location of secret devices.
The charity, which offers support and advice to women who are abused by their partners, has set up a page on its website advising how to switch off the alert so the alarm will not be audible.
"Women at risk of domestic abuse often have a secret phone hidden away so they can call emergency help if they need to," said Elaine. "Our advice is always to keep the phone switched on and fully-charged so a call can be made very quickly if needed.
"Abusers often monitor their victim's mobile phones and refuse to let them use them so they can exert their control, so a pay-as-you-go phone hidden away to use in an emergency is a very good idea. However, we are concerned that some women may not be aware of the national test on Sunday and may put themselves at risk if it exposes the existence of a phone when the alert sounds. We have put advice up on our website to show women how to turn the alarm off and advise them to do so."
Although the alarm will sound even if the phone is switched to silent mode, the Government has stressed it will not sound if the phone is switched off or put on airplane mode, after consultation with domestic abuse charities, who warned of the “very real risk” to those in danger of domestic abuse.
The nationwide test of a new public alert system will be at 3pm on Sunday, April 23, on 4G and 5G mobile phones, along with sound and vibration for up to 10 seconds even if devices are on silent. It will say: “This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK Government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby."
The system is intended to be used in life-threatening situations including flooding and wildfires. The alert system was not intended to be used if there was a marauding terrorist because the alerts could give away people’s hiding places, but they may be branched out in time, including for other forms of terrorist attack, as well as for incidents where an area may need to be cleared, such as car bombs, nuclear threats and dangerous criminals on the loose.
Once broadcast of the signal stops, the alert will not sound. Therefore, unlike with an SMS, phones being switched back on afterwards will not receive the alert after the event.
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