Exactly who will get emergency alert sent to their mobiles and how to turn it off
The UK Government has confirmed that 87 million people will receive an alert to their phones in September.
The emergency alert system is set for a test run on September 7 at around 3pm and everyone with a device operating on 4G and 5G will be affected.
Devices will sound a loud siren sound for approximately 10 seconds, accompanied by vibrations and a message providing more details about the alert. Typically, this message would be to advise people on how to respond to the emergency, but as this is just a test, people can carry on with their day once the siren ends, reports the Mirror.
But, three groups may need to react differently to the emergency alert test. These are drivers, people with hidden phones such as victims of domestic abuse, and those with hearing or vision impairments.
Official advice says victims of domestic abuse and others in vulnerable situations with concealed phones can opt out from receiving the emergency alert. This can be done on iPhones and Android phones by navigating to 'emergency alerts' in your settings and disabling 'severe alerts' and 'extreme alerts'.
Devices from other manufacturers and software will have different methods to deactivate these settings. More guidance on opting out of the alerts can be found on the Gov.uk website.
Mobile devices and tablets will still receive the test notification even if they are not connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi networks. However, devices that are switched off, are Wi-Fi only, or on 2G or 3G networks won't get the alert.
Drivers are cautioned not to engage with the alert if it appears while driving. The government said: "It is illegal to use a hand-held device while driving. Find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message."
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or partially sighted, the government's advice states: "During the test, audio and vibration attention signals will let you know you have received an alert, if accessibility notifications have been enabled on your mobile phone or tablet.
"The government will continue ongoing engagement with disability charities and campaigners in the run up to the test."
The purpose of this test is to ensure the system works correctly in case of an actual emergency. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, announced: "At around 3pm on Sunday, September 7, millions of people across the country will read this message on their mobile phones during a critical national test of our Emergency Alerts system."
He emphasised the importance of the trial, saying: "Just like the fire alarm in your house, it's important we test this system so that we know it will work if we need it. The alerts have the potential to save lives."
Since the initial trial of the emergency alert system in 2023, five genuine alerts have been issued. This includes during significant weather incidents such as Storm Éowyn, when an alert was dispatched to those in red weather warning zones where life was at risk.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
34 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Apple MacBook Air M4 now £859 on Amazon – ideal for uni students
The latest 2025 MacBook Air with M4 chip – powerful, lightweight, and ideal for uni | Apple This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Amazon's bestselling laptop is now just £859 – with the new M4 chip, 16GB memory and a spec that's built to last through university and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... If you're kitting someone out for university, this is the one to beat. The brand new MacBook Air with Apple's M4 chip and 16GB memory is down to just £859.97 on Amazon – that's £140 less than buying it direct from Apple, and a huge saving on what is hands-down one of the best premium laptops out there right now. It's not just slim and light enough to lug between lectures, libraries and house shares – it's powerful enough to handle anything a student can throw at it, from writing essays to editing videos or running design software. The new M4 chip unlocks Apple's next-gen AI tools, while the 16GB of memory means no lag, no stress. Battery life? Up to 18 hours. Build quality? Apple's famously tough chassis means this laptop will survive knocks, bumps, and the occasional spilled coffee – and still look the part in three years' time. You also get a sharp 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display that makes everything from reading PDFs to streaming films look crisp and vivid. The keyboard is backlit for late-night study sessions, the trackpad is huge and smooth, and the speakers deliver surprisingly decent audio for such a slim machine. There's even a 12MP camera for Zoom or FaceTime calls with parents. Connectivity is sorted too – two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and MagSafe charging. It supports up to two external displays, and works seamlessly with other Apple devices, which is ideal if they're already in the iPhone ecosystem. It's not just a laptop – it's a fully connected student hub. It's no surprise this is Amazon's current number one bestselling laptop. At this price, it's a steal – and far more future-proof than most cheaper models. Midnight is the best value colour, but there are four to choose from if you fancy something lighter or brighter. All things considered, this is the kind of deal that doesn't come around often – and once it's gone, it's gone. Apple Back-to-uni tech sorted: Get this Apple MacBook for under £100 £ 99.00 Buy now Buy now Getting ready for university can be expensive, but your student's laptop doesn't have to be. We've found a refurbished Apple MacBook for just £99 – fully tested, ready to go, and perfect for everyday study tasks like essays, research, streaming and calls. It's a 2008 model, so you can expect some cosmetic wear, but it still delivers reliable performance at a price that's hard to beat. It's a great pick for anyone after a dependable, no-fuss machine to take to uni this autumn. Buy the refurbished Apple MacBook now from Wowcher here. Gousto Gousto: Fast, flexible meals that suit busy student schedules Best For Cooking quickly with loads of recipe choice £ 2.24 Gousto Buy now Buy now Pros: Huge recipe variety with beginner-friendly meals Cons: Prices rise significantly after the initial discounts Gousto is a brilliant fit for students who want to cook fast, flavour-packed meals on a budget — without wasting food or effort. With over 500 dishes rotating monthly (and 185+ veggie options), it's ideal for picky eaters or anyone trying to branch out from toast and pasta. There are loads of 10–15 minute recipes and global cuisines to try, and the instructions are simple enough for total beginners. What makes Gousto especially appealing to parents is the discount: new users get up to 50% off their first box, with further savings across the next two months. It's not the cheapest long-term, but as a flexible, low-waste intro to cooking, it's top-tier. 👉 Build your Gousto box here with up to 50% off
Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
Apple MacBook Air M4 now £859 on Amazon – ideal for uni students
The latest 2025 MacBook Air with M4 chip – powerful, lightweight, and ideal for uni | Apple This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Amazon's bestselling laptop is now just £859 – with the new M4 chip, 16GB memory and a spec that's built to last through university and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... If you're kitting someone out for university, this is the one to beat. The brand new MacBook Air with Apple's M4 chip and 16GB memory is down to just £859.97 on Amazon – that's £140 less than buying it direct from Apple, and a huge saving on what is hands-down one of the best premium laptops out there right now. It's not just slim and light enough to lug between lectures, libraries and house shares – it's powerful enough to handle anything a student can throw at it, from writing essays to editing videos or running design software. The new M4 chip unlocks Apple's next-gen AI tools, while the 16GB of memory means no lag, no stress. Battery life? Up to 18 hours. Build quality? Apple's famously tough chassis means this laptop will survive knocks, bumps, and the occasional spilled coffee – and still look the part in three years' time. You also get a sharp 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display that makes everything from reading PDFs to streaming films look crisp and vivid. The keyboard is backlit for late-night study sessions, the trackpad is huge and smooth, and the speakers deliver surprisingly decent audio for such a slim machine. There's even a 12MP camera for Zoom or FaceTime calls with parents. Connectivity is sorted too – two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and MagSafe charging. It supports up to two external displays, and works seamlessly with other Apple devices, which is ideal if they're already in the iPhone ecosystem. It's not just a laptop – it's a fully connected student hub. It's no surprise this is Amazon's current number one bestselling laptop. At this price, it's a steal – and far more future-proof than most cheaper models. Midnight is the best value colour, but there are four to choose from if you fancy something lighter or brighter. All things considered, this is the kind of deal that doesn't come around often – and once it's gone, it's gone. Apple Back-to-uni tech sorted: Get this Apple MacBook for under £100 £ 99.00 Buy now Buy now Getting ready for university can be expensive, but your student's laptop doesn't have to be. We've found a refurbished Apple MacBook for just £99 – fully tested, ready to go, and perfect for everyday study tasks like essays, research, streaming and calls. It's a 2008 model, so you can expect some cosmetic wear, but it still delivers reliable performance at a price that's hard to beat. It's a great pick for anyone after a dependable, no-fuss machine to take to uni this autumn. Buy the refurbished Apple MacBook now from Wowcher here.
The National
7 hours ago
- The National
History made as Scottish rocket firm hits 'major milestone'
With this new licence, Skyrora will be permitted up to 16 sub-orbital launches per year from the UK's first licenced vertical launch spaceport, SaxaVord, in the Shetland Islands. With headquarters in Glasgow and their manufacturing facility in Cumbernauld, this marks a 'major milestone' for the UK's emerging space sector, according to Rob Bishton, the chief executive of the CAA. Bishton said: 'Granting a home-grown company, Skyrora its launch licence is a major milestone for our space sector and our nation. 'Our work as the UK's space regulator is enabling the burgeoning launch industry to safely grow, bringing new jobs and investment with it.' With this licence, Skyrora plans to launch and operate their sub-orbital Skylark L vehicle, subject to CAA authorisation. In August of 2018 in Ross-shire, Skyrora successfully conducted the first ever rocket test launch in Scotland by a private firm. Volodymyr Levykin, chief executive of Skyrora, welcomed the news of the new licence, saying: 'Becoming the first UK company to receive its vertical launch operator licence is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at Skyrora. It is essential that the UK has sovereign launch capabilities.' He further added that Skyrora is 'proud to be leading efforts that enable launch activity from the UK and we look forward to achieving a reliable commercial launch programme that benefits us all'. READ MORE: Scottish company to launch rockets into space 'next year' Skyrora's success marks a pivotal moment in the UK's aerospace history, the firm said. The last time the UK sent a rocket into space was five decades ago in 1971 with the 'Black Arrow' Rocket. To this day, that has been the only orbital launch using a British-built rocket, though the launch itself was conducted in Australia. Skyrora underwent a vetting process in order to be granted the new licence, the CAA said, including safety protocols, international obligations, and environmental impact mitigation. The CAA said it will also continue to play a vital oversight role during the launches, ensuring Skyrora complies with all conditions of the licence. These conditions include adequate insurance, a data-sharing agreement with the UK Government, agreements with the [[spaceport]], and coordination with international airspace authorities. The SaxaVord Spaceport was granted the UK's first vertical launch licence in December 2023, and received its range control licence in April 2024. The chief executive of the UK Space Agency, Dr Paul Bate, praised Skyrora. He said: 'Congratulations to Skyrora on becoming the first UK rocket company to receive a launch licence from the Civil Aviation Authority. 'This demonstrates the growing strength of our domestic launch capabilities, and the thriving commercial space economy we are building across the country.' He further added: 'With companies like Skyrora, we're positioning Britain as the natural choice for customers seeking reliable, cost-effective access to space from European soil.' Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Government's business minister, said: 'Securing the UK's first launch operator licence is a landmark moment in Skyrora's plans to become the first company in the UK to build and launch a rocket into space.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray (Image: PA) Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, said: "This launch licence isn't just one giant leap for Skyrora – it's a massive boost to the whole of Scotland and the wider UK's space sector. Becoming the first British company to manufacture and send a rocket into space from the UK will be a hugely significant moment. "It's an exciting time for the Scottish space sector – an important industry which is playing a vital role in our Plan for Change, helping economic growth and employing thousands of people in good quality jobs across the country. 'Glasgow in particular is a city and region with a huge role to play in the space race, with innovation in this field the focus of its £160 million UK Government funded Investment Zone status. This zone, established with local partners, is expected to generate around £300 million of initial private investment and support up to 10,000 jobs in the region."
