All phones in the UK will receive an emergency alert at the end of next week

The UK government has revealed the message which will appear alongside a loud alarm on millions of mobile phones on 23 April. Domestic violence campaigners argue, however, that the test could put people at risk by revealing the location of secret phones hidden by people in danger.

The text that will appear has now been revealed and will read: “This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will alert you if there is a life-threatening emergency nearby. In the event of a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information. This is a test. You don’t have to take any action.”

The message will be received on 4G and 5G mobile phones along with a sound and vibration for up to 10 seconds, even if the devices are on silent.

Phone users will be prompted to click “OK” on the home screen or away from the message before they can continue using their device.

Drivers are advised not to look at their phones until it is safe to do so.

The emergency alert system is intended to be used in life-threatening situations, including floods and fires.

It is inspired by similar systems in the US, Canada, Japan and the Netherlands.

Oliver Dowden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: “Having this system become operational means we have a vital tool to keep the public safe in life-threatening emergencies. It could be the sound that saves your life.”

But domestic violence campaigners said the test could put people at risk by revealing the location of secret phones hidden by those at risk.

The government said it was working with organizations working with vulnerable women and girls to ensure they were not adversely affected.

Officials said people can opt out of the system if they need to hide their phones, either by turning off emergency alerts in their settings or simply turning off the device during the test.

Several major events will take place on the day of the test, including the London Marathon and the Premier League games between Bournemouth and West Ham and Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur, which kick off at 2pm.

The government stated that it collaborated with the Football Association and the organizers of the marathon to limit the impact of the text.

Chief Fire Officer Alex Woodman, from the National Council of Fire Chiefs, said: “We need to use all the tools at our disposal to keep people safe and we need everyone to play their part and the new system of emergency alerts is one way we can do this. For 10 seconds, the national test may be uncomfortable for some, but it is important because the next time you hear it, your life and the life-saving actions of our emergency services could depend on it.”