UK tries new phone alert system in case of danger

2023-04-23T21:21:32.147Z

Highlights: The British received an alert message on their phone on Sunday, April 23 at 15 p.m. This was the first test of a system put in place by the government. British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden warned that the alarm will be a bit annoying, embarrassing, even irritating, "but it's the sound that could save your life" The alarm sounds for about ten seconds. For some the alert came earlier, or later, when others still have not received it. In a crowded street in the capital, passers-by stop and look at their phones.

An alarm that sounds on your mobile if you run a danger of flood, fire ... For the first time, the United Kingdom conducted a full-scale test on Sunday 23 April at 15pm. All...

UK tries new phone alert system in case of danger

The British received an alert message on their phone on Sunday, April 23 at 15 p.m. This was the first test of a system put in place by the government. AP - Alberto Pezzali

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

An alarm that sounds on your mobile if you run a danger of flood, fire ... For the first time, the United Kingdom conducted a full-scale test on Sunday 23 April at 15pm. All the phones rang at the same time. A first attempt that leaves many British skeptical.

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With our correspondent in London, Marie Boëda

The alarm sounds for about ten seconds. In a crowded street in the capital, passers-by stop and look at their phones with an indifferent look at this new alert system tested for the first time. Claire, a Londoner, said: "I was on the subway. Everyone received it. We expected it, it was planned. But how it would happen if something really happened, I don't know. How many will decide to ignore it? I don't know. I hope it will never be needed.

Phil rolls his eyes after this test. He didn't even want to look at his phone, which was left in the pocket of his red K-Way. This young architect doubts its effectiveness: "It's hard to say, it depends on whether it can really help people or if it will especially scare them. If I were an old, frail person and I received a message saying that there is a great danger, I could panic.

Remember, today at 3pm in the UK there will be a test of the new Emergency Alert System.

This is what to expect ⬇️

More: https://t.co/qnlyReR0Uz pic.twitter.com/PvacWxY30s

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) April 23, 2023

British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden warned that the alarm will be a bit annoying, embarrassing, even irritating, "but it's the sound that could save your life." Criticism was not long in coming. For some the alert came earlier, or later, when others still have not received it.

UK tries new phone alert system in case of danger

UK tries new phone alert system in case of danger

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