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Emergency Alert – National Test

On September 07 at approx. 3 pm the government will be running an emergency alert test. Please make sure your elderly relatives and neighbours with mobile phones are aware this is just a test.

Published: 28 July 2025

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Emergency Alerts is a UK government system that provides warning and advice in a life threatening emergency.

Thresholds for the use of Emergency Alerts are:

  1. Lives are at risk.
  2. There is urgency
  3. Action is needed
  4. Defined location of the risk

The government will be running a national test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday, 7th September 2025.

What happens when you get an emergency alert

Your mobile phone or tablet may:

  • make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent
  • vibrate
  • read out the alert

The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.

An alert will include a phone number or a link to the GOV.UK website for more information.

You’ll get alerts based on your current location – not where you live or work.  You do not need to turn on locations services to receive alerts.

For full details visit  About Emergency Alerts – GOV.UK for more information.


There are simple and effective steps you can take to be more prepared for an emergency in your area. Visit gov.uk/prepare for more information.

To get local information on how to be prepared for emergencies please visit Wiltshire and Swindon Prepared

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