Emergency Government phone alert 'put domestic abuse victims at risk'

Published: 21:10, 16 August 2026 | Updated: 21:11, 16 August 2026 The Government's emergency alert warning could have put domestic abuse victims at risk, campaigners said. After the blaring warning sounded from phones across the country on Friday, charities and survivors said it could have put victims who keep secret second phones at risk. Millions of phones were sent the loud warning - the largest use of the emergency alert system so far - at 7pm on Friday without advance notice. It warned against using disposable barbecues, naked flames or fireworks amid the ongoing risk of wildfires, which have ravaged the UK this summer. But a lack of communication on when the alert would be sent has led to criticism, with Women's Aid saying the Government should forewarn the public about emergency notifications wherever possible. Veronica Oakeshott, the charity's head of external affairs, told BBC News victims often turned to second phones to access 'lifesaving support' or 'flee from abuse'. She added: 'We would urge the government to forewarn the public that alerts might be issued, when possible.' Senior government figures were reportedly discussing whether to send the alert on Friday morning before the Cabinet Office published a press release - not picked up by much of the media - at around 6.45pm. Millions of phones blared with the emergency alert on Friday evening, which warned of the risk from wildfires But campaigners including Padua Eaton said the Government should have allowed domestic abuse victims, many of whom keep secret phones, more notice of the alarm Padua Eaton, a domestic abuse survivor who founded The Harborough Doves, a support group, said her 'heart dropped' when the alert sounded. 'My first thought was anxiety at the alarm - many people in domestic abuse relationships have a secret second phone in order to keep communication with friends or professionals and this alarm would have alerted abusers immediately.' Ms Eaton, 29, said the Government should have given more notice of the warning, adding victims may no longer feel safe keeping second phones if the alarms became more frequent.  Andy Burnham was criticised for 'prime ministerial posturing' after the alert went out on Friday after panicked Britons jammed 999 phone lines and startled drivers swerved across motorways. A Cabinet Office report explicitly warned against its use for 'lower level' incidents for fear of creating a 'cry wolf' effect, in which phone users either disabled or ignored the alert in cases of genuine emergency. A Conservative source told The Mail on Sunday: 'It was designed for terrorist attacks, not to tell people how to cook their sausages.' Emergency services were inundated with 999 calls after the alert went out, including from those reporting their neighbours for having barbecues in their gardens. It also caused chaos on the roads, with spooked motorists veering across carriageways as they attempted to check their phones. Frustrated cinema-goers and broadcasters added to the complaints about the disruption, while there was confusion across Wales after the alert was sent out in Welsh – despite only a quarter of the country speaking it.