The government is set to test its UK emergency alert system on Sunday 23rd April 2023. The emergency alerts will appear on mobile phones UK-wide and will be accompanied by a loud siren-like sound, and vibration for up to 10 seconds.
The idea behind this new system is to ensure that the public are informed of serious threats or hazards close to them and provide instructions about how to respond.
The Crime Survey for England and Wales published a report in which an estimated 6.9% (1.7 million) of women and 3% (699,000) of men experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2022.[1] The reality, therefore, is that over 2 million people living in the UK, face the most serious ‘threat’ or ‘hazard’ not only ‘close’ to them but within their own homes, every day.
Many people living with this put measures in place for both protection from and prevention of further abuse, and a common means of doing so is to have a hidden mobile phone, a ‘just in case’ measure, that the perpetrator of the abuse does not know of and simultaneously cannot monitor the use of.
If you have taken this measure, please ensure that this phone is turned off or put on airplane mode in order to prevent discovery. The alert will be effective even where mobile phones are placed on silent, do not disturb or where notifications are turned off.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, we strongly advise that you speak to a trained professional to seek support, such as domestic abuse organisations, the police, or social services.
BHP Law offers a free confidential half-hour appointment for family law matters; this includes advice on domestic abuse, and Legal Aid funding is available to victims of domestic abuse (subject to a means test).
Our family lawyers can advise and assist you quickly and efficiently and as a team, we have substantial experience in successfully applying to the Court for Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders to protect our clients and their children from perpetrators of domestic abuse.
[1] https://criminalinjurieshelpline.co.uk/blog/domestic-abuse-violence-data-stats/
