The Southport riots, falling Chinese rockets and parasitic water all almost forced the UK government to use its emergency alert system.
Launching in 2023, Alert warns people of threats to life in their area.
The test saw mobile phones playing siren-like sounds with messages displayed on the screen.
Now, research by the PA news agency has revealed almost exactly when the alerts were sent.
The most notable of these were the Southport riots in the summer of 2024.
In July of that year, widespread unrest followed the murder of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Following the murders, and online rumors that the culprit was a small boat migrant, violent riots broke out in several places.
Mosques, community centres, libraries and hotels housing asylum seekers were targeted.
A recent government analysis found that the situation was “largely aggravating”. far right group.
British-born Axel Rudakubana later confessed to the murders.
According to information obtained by the PA through a Freedom of Information request, the situations represent “a ‘near miss’ where the Cabinet Office considered the use of an emergency alert capability, which was ultimately stopped”.
For the second time, the government had considered sending a message to every phone in the UK as early as 2026.
It was thought that debris from a Chinese Zhuk-3 space rocket could land on Britain after re-entering the atmosphere.
That was well over the mark, as the debris hit the water near the Antarctic, more than 1,000 miles south of New Zealand.
The government said they considered an alert “due to the size of the debris, which was larger than normal”.
Back in May 2024, a Parasite Cryptosporidium Outbreak Thousands of people in Devon had their drinking water contaminated, some had to be hospitalized
The government considered using emergency warnings to boil water before using it.
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In September 2025, there were concerns that the Kilroot Gas Power Station in Northern Ireland might have to be closed as it was nearing its annual operating limit.
After being told there could be power outages, the Cabinet Office considered warning people via their mobile phones – but decided against it.
During this period, alerts for bad weather were also considered. storm babette in 2025, and during rain and wind in Scotland and the north east of England in 2023.
A government spokesperson said: “As the public expects, the Government is actively considering how to respond to a wide range of potential developments.
“The emergency alert system is a critical public safety tool that is designed to be used sparingly. It has a very high activation threshold and is strictly reserved for life threatening situations.”
