Emergency text messages for public in ‘threat to life’ area

THE public will be sent emergency texts if they are in an area at risk of flooding, extreme heat or a terrorist attack in reforms of the Government’s crisis response plans.

The warnings will be sent to anyone in an area where there is a ‘threat to life’. Phones will vibrate and emit a unique sound, while a message will give details of the emergency along with advice on what to do and how to seek help.

The warnings, which are free, will work like a radio broadcast with every phone or tablet in the range of a specific mast alerted.

Therefore, any data and privacy fears are minimised because the emergency services and the UK Government do not need individual phone numbers to issue broadcasts and individuals can opt out in their phone settings.

A privacy expert said: ‘A system like this would need tight regulation on content and purpose but if that’s accepted then it does seem a much better way of doing things than their prior idea of asking the telephone companies to do it for them.’

Over the next few months everyone in Scotland, England and Wales will receive a test alert explaining the system before it is introduced in December.