Emergency Alerts System

Oliver Dowden Excerpts

Monday 20th March 2023 Written Statements

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Secretary of State (Oliver Dowden)]

Today, I can confirm that the Government have launched phase one of the emergency alerts system, a UK-wide capability based on cell broadcasting technology developed by the Cabinet Office and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in conjunction with mobile network operators.

The system launch commenced on Sunday 19 March and will allow emergency responders to send emergency alerts, with a distinctive message appearance and tone, to every compatible mobile device within a selected geographical area at very short notice, providing a highly flexible capability for prompting quick action from the public. In order to test the technology, the pilot will focus only on notifying the public of the most serious severe weather and flooding risks over the first three months, followed by a review process.

This system will transform the United Kingdom’s emergency warning and informing capability, providing a means to provide urgent information to nearly 90% of mobile phones within a defined area. This area can be as limited as an electoral ward, or expanded as far as the whole of the United Kingdom. The technology has been used successfully in a number of other countries, such as the United States, Canada and Japan, where it has been proven to save lives. Ahead of the launch, the Government have worked in partnership with the devolved Administrations and local resilience forums to ensure that relevant emergency responders across the United Kingdom have an understanding of the capability.

There will be a very high threshold for its use based on strict criteria centred on an immediate risk to life. Despite this, members of the public will be able to opt out of the system if they do not wish to receive emergency alerts. The system is secure, with alerts only able to be sent by authorised governmental and emergency services users.

We have worked closely with our devolved partners to ensure the capability is available throughout the UK and this close collaboration will continue throughout the pilot phase. The UK Government will issue alerts for incidents in England, or that relate to reserved matters. Alerts to be released in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland will be communicated in advance to resilience officials in the relevant devolved Government. On matters that are devolved, Ministers from the relevant Administrations may approve the alert.

A communications campaign will lead up to a UK-wide national message on 23 April. This will seek to maximise public awareness and familiarise people with the format and style of the message. Our research shows that other countries have found such test messages to be highly effective in improving public understanding. This alert will be simultaneously broadcast to all compatible devices and will be sent in both English and Welsh to recipients in Wales.

This important development will allow us to validate the effectiveness of the system and build familiarity and trust, laying the foundations for the potential wider use of emergency alerts in the future.

[HCWS654]