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Twitter Alerts

Twitter expands Alert service to UK and Ireland

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By John Glenday | Reporter

November 18, 2013 | 2 min read

Twitter has announced it is to make its Alert service available to tweeters in the UK and Ireland; enabling opted in users to receive urgent tweets from, emergency, relief and charity organisations.

Launched in the US, Japan and Korea back in September the service will initially encompass 57 different Twitter accounts from the UK; including all 47 police forces, An Garda Síochána in Ireland, the London Fire Brigade, the Mayor of London’s office, the Foreign Office, and the Environment Agency.

Emergency alerts from these organisations will now be funnelled direct to subscribers as highlighted tweets, texts or push notifications for those with Twitter’s iOS or Android apps.

In a statement a Twitter spokesperson said: “While participating organisations choose what information merits a Twitter Alerts designation, this feature is intended for crisis, disaster and emergency communications.

“Getting fast and accurate information to the public in a major incident or terrorist attack really could make a life-saving difference,” noted Commander David Martin, who oversees emergency planning for the Metropolitan Police Service, in a statement. “Using social networking sites, including Twitter, gives us additional ways to talk directly to the public. Twitter Alerts means that our messages will stand out when it most matters.”

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