• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Millions to receive emergency alert blast through phone as Government test system on every device in UK

Home> News> UK News

Updated 10:17 17 Jan 2025 GMTPublished 10:11 17 Jan 2025 GMT

Millions to receive emergency alert blast through phone as Government test system on every device in UK

The government will be sending millions of people an emergency siren message in 2025

Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair

Mobile phones across the nation are set to be sent a 10-second warning at some point this year.

The British government is set to test its emergency alert system for the second time, with 87 million devices set to be alerted.

It will be carried out following a recommendation from the Covid inquiry with regards to crisis preparation.

Most recently, an alert was sent out to Brits in relevant areas in the midst of Storm Darragh, advising them to stay indoors following the red warning from the Met Office.

Advert

Millions of phones will sound later this year (Leon Neal/Getty Image)
Millions of phones will sound later this year (Leon Neal/Getty Image)

When will the emergency alerts be sent out?

A date has not yet been announced for the latest round of test alerts, though the last time every phone across the UK received a similar alert was back in April 2023, which was dubbed the 'armageddon alert'.

Ministers have highlighted that another country-wide test, two years on, will ensure that the system is working properly.

The Cabinet Office stated that regular testing will mean that the UK remains 'in line with other countries that test similar systems on a regular basis'.

Advert

It is expected that the message will read similar to the one from a couple of years ago.

This test will reportedly be held on several days over a number of months this autumn, with many across the UK participating.

The alerts will be carried out following a recommendation from the Covid inquiry with regards to crisis preparation (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
The alerts will be carried out following a recommendation from the Covid inquiry with regards to crisis preparation (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

'We must learn lessons from the Covid pandemic'

The MP for Wolverhampton South East, Pat McFadden, said that senior Government figures and members of the emergency services will be taking part in a pandemic preparedness exercise too, over a number of days.

Advert

It will be the first test of pandemic preparedness in almost 10 years.

He explained: "We must learn lessons from the Covid pandemic as we cannot afford to make the same mistakes again. But we will plan in a way that recognises the next crisis may not be the same as the last."

He went on: "We agree with the inquiry that more needs to be done and are announcing measures to make sure that we are as prepared as possible for future pandemics.

"These changes will improve our resilience and preparedness and help to safeguard our citizens."

Millions will be involved in the tests this autumn (Getty Stock Photo)
Millions will be involved in the tests this autumn (Getty Stock Photo)

Criticism of the upcoming emergency alerts

Some members of the government have not been so supportive though, as Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said that the test would be ‘the nanny state on full display’.

Advert

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Former Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency of the UK, called it a 'bossy intrusion' used for 'trivial matters'.

The chair of the UK Covid-19 inquiry, Baroness Hallett, claimed that the UK was not prepared enough to deal with another pandemic.

Hallett suggested that pandemic preparedness exercises be held every three years from now on.

Pets at Home even stated that they will issue briefings 'a few weeks prior' to stores, as there is concern that the sirens will 'startle' smaller animals.

Featured Image Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Image / Getty Stock Photo

Topics: Phones, UK News, News

Joshua Nair
Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair is a journalist at LADbible. Born in Malaysia and raised in Dubai, he has always been interested in writing about a range of subjects, from sports to trending pop culture news. After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a BA in Media, Journalism and Publishing, he got a job freelance writing for SPORTbible while working in marketing before landing a full-time role at LADbible. Unfortunately, he's unhealthily obsessed with Manchester United, which takes its toll on his mental and physical health. Daily.

X

@joshnair10

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Millions to receive emergency alert blast through phone this year as trial run results revealed
  • Government sends out emergency alert to millions of mobile phones tonight
  • How to make sure your phone doesn't have 'heatwave meltdown' as temperatures in UK to hit 35 degrees
  • Why Met Office has warned Brits to 'charge mobile devices' as UK alert issued

Choose your content:

15 mins ago
an hour ago
4 hours ago
  • 15 mins ago

    The dark happenings behind the scenes of ChatGPT that many people don't know about

    In 2023, OpenAI was subjected to controversy following a TIME magazine investigation into ChatGPT

    News
  • an hour ago

    Spanish government demand investigation into footballer Lamine Yamal's birthday party after 'dwarves exploited'

    The Barcelona footballer celebrated his 18th with a lavish party but was criticised for his antics

    News
  • an hour ago

    Reality behind not masturbating as 'health benefits' explained after doctor shared how often it should be done

    Abstaining may not be that beneficial after all

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Mounjaro users warned over little known side effect that could harm you in a heatwave

    Around one in 10 GLP-1 users have reported these side effects

    News