How victims of domestic abuse can opt out of emergency alert this weekend

Concerns had been raised that victims of domestic abuse who own a second phone could have it exposed

The Justice Minister has issued advice to victims of domestic abuse who may own a second phone on how they can opt out of this weekend’s emergency alert test.

Naomi Long confirmed that there are steps that victims can take in order to opt out of the Emergency Alert system that is due to be tested by the UK Government at around 3pm on Sunday, September 7. It will see mobile phones across the UK vibrate and make a loud siren noise for 10 seconds, even if they are on silent.

Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “Testing the Emergency Alerts system is an important preparation to ensure it is functioning as it should.

READ MORE: Domestic abuse files submitted ahead of inquest into killing of two womenREAD MORE: Meet the Belfast woman helping domestic abuse victims reclaim their power through martial arts

“However, I am aware there are people living under the shadow of domestic violence who own a second phone which their abuser does not know about. We know that some perpetrators don’t allow their victims to have a phone, or they monitor and control its use as a way to isolate them from family, friends or any kind of support network.

“In these situations, a second secret phone can be an important form of communication; it may even be the only lifeline they have in an emergency.

“The test of the Emergency Alerts system may therefore pose a risk, not only because an abuser could discover the second phone, but also because they could use this as a reason to escalate abuse.

“It is possible, however, to deactivate the alert before it happens and I would encourage any domestic abuse survivors to take steps to do this before the test happens on 7 September.”

The Emergency Alerts system is used to warn if there is a danger to life nearby, including extreme weather. It allows vital information and advice to be sent to people rapidly in an emergency.

Alongside the loud siren, a message will also appear on phone screens, making it clear the alert is only a test. The test will be sent to all compatible 4G and 5G mobile phones and tablets across the UK.

The Emergency Alerts system is an important tool for reaching the public in emergency situations. However, if you need to turn off these alerts (including the test), visit gov.uk/alerts/opting-out for step-by-step instructions.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our politics newsletter here.