Domestic abuse charities have said they are concerned about the effect a nationwide mobile phone alert will have this weekend.

The government has announced that at 3pm on Sunday, members of the public will receive an emergency alert test on their mobile phones.  

A message will appear on home screens, and a “loud siren” and vibration of up to ten seconds. This will occur regardless of whether the phone is switched to silent. 

However, domestic abuse organisations have raised concerns about what this will mean for victims who rely on a second mobile phone. 

Lucy Hadley is head of policy at Women’s Aid. She said: “For many survivors, a second phone which the perpetrator does not know about is an important form of communication with friends or family – as some abusers confiscate or monitor and control their partner’s phone. It may also be their only lifeline in emergencies.  

“The emergency alerts pose a risk, not only because an abuser could discover a survivors’ second phone, but also because they could use this as a reason to escalate abuse.” 

She said that Women’s Aid is working with its users to ensure that they know how to opt-out of the alert. 

Mollin Delve is the founder and chief officer of PHOEBE, an Ipswich-based charity which works with BME women escaping violent relationships, and those from underprivileged backgrounds.   

She said: “We need to make sure that women are aware of this siren, and know to switch off their phone and hide it before the alert to ensure it isn’t seen.” 

She said that PHOEBE was reaching out to its users to make them aware of the siren, and suggesting that they might hand their second phones to a trusted friend or family member to keep safe on Sunday. 

Ms Delve added that it is important to remember that this government alert was being issued for the safety of everyone.