A potentially dangerous setting on Android phones means that emergency phone lines are being pocket dialled, a Metropolitan Police officer has warned. Android devices have a setting called ‘Emergency SOS’ that is intended to make it easier for people to call for help. If a person presses the power button fives times or more, it starts a series of emergency actions like calling for help. Users can choose what that setting does. But by default the phone calls the police number, so that they will be alerted to any issue. The ease with which the setting can be activated means that 999 lines in the UK are getting called by accident, according Met Police chief superintendent Dan Ivey. The button is being pressed while people’s phones are in their pockets, further filling up already stretched emergency call handlers. He asked that people disable the feature to help reduce demand. He described the setting as a “problem”, though some users may opt to keep it active if they feel that it is likely to be used in an emergency. Mr Ivey said that on Saturday the Met Police had received an “unprecedented” 9,500 calls through 999, and 3,000 on non-emergency lines. Only 20 per cent of them had required police to be sent in emergency response mode, he said. “There is a problem with SOS auto mode on Android devices, so we are asking for your help,” Mr Ivey said, describing the issue. He asked that people turn off the feature by going to settings and then choosing “Emergency SOS”, where the feature can be turned off or changed so that it does not ring 999. He asked people to ensure they only call 999 when they need police urgently, on blue lights, in situations where there is a danger to life, someone is using or there is immediate threat of serious violence, or there is serious injury to a person or serious damage to a property. Mr Ivey was responding a to post from the London Ambulance Service in which it said it was also receiving historic numbers of calls. It said that on Monday it had received 7,751 999 calls, the highest since New Year’s Eve 2021, and also asked people to keep 999 for life-threatening emergencies only. The iPhone also has its own Emergency SOS feature, though its design may mean that it is less likely to be triggered by accident. On newer phones it is activated by pressing a volume and power button, and on older ones it is used by pressing the power button fives times; in both cases, however, it also requires users to then push across a slider that will actually activate the emergency call. Read More Reddit says people will get over outrage and causes further outrage LinkedIn bans ‘wonder kid’ SpaceX engineer, 14, hired by Elon Musk Reddit hit by more outages as the fight over its future escalates

The 2023 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix has been called off due to flooding at Imola. Heavy rain in the area forced Formula 1 personnel to be asked to leave the paddock on Tuesday, with race officials confirming the cancellation on Wednesday. Italian authorities had issued flood and landslide warnings as the rising level of water in the Santerno river, which runs close to the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, threatened the circuit. While the paddock remained free from flooding on Wednesday morning, car parks and other areas nearby have been caught in the deluge as F1 staff were advised not to travel to Imola. And with heavy rain not expected to cease until Thursday, organisers were left with no choice but to call off the sixth race of the season. At least three people in the region of Emilia-Romagna have been killed in the flooding, with more than 5,000 evacuated from their homes. Ferrari said in a statement: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with the people of Emilia-Romagna and Marche as they deal with the destruction caused by the heavy rain and flooding currently affecting the area." After Max Verstappen’s dominant win in Miami, F1 season is now set to continue with the Monaco Grand Prix next weekend. Read More When is the next F1 race of the season? Red Bull chief takes swipe at Mercedes for trying to poach lead designer ‘Best driver in the world’ needs more than just a Formula One title, claims rival championship boss

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Lewis Hamilton collided with Mercedes team-mate George Russell as Max Verstappen raced to pole position for Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix. Hamilton will start fifth following a bizarre coming together with Russell, who lines up in 12th, at the end of Q2 at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. Verstappen finished four tenths clear of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, with Lando Norris an impressive third for McLaren. Pierre Gasly took fourth spot for Alpine, one place ahead of Hamilton, who was half-a-second back, with home favourite Fernando Alonso only ninth in his Aston Martin. Hamilton had to take on a replacement front wing for Q3 after he made contact with Russell in the closing stages of Q2. With both Mercedes men starting their hot laps, Hamilton moved out of Russell’s tow at 210mph on the main straight. But the seven-time world champion was forced to take to the grass after his team-mate, who was making his way past Sainz’s Ferrari, unintentionally, closed the door on him. Hamilton kicked up dirt from the grass as part of his front wing flew off his Mercedes. “George just backed off,” said Hamilton over the radio. “That is really dangerous. I might have some damage on the car.” Although Hamilton’s time was good enough to progress to Q3, Russell was eliminated in 12th. “You didn’t tell me there was a car behind,” said Russell. “I don’t know what the hell was going on in this session. The car was bouncing. I couldn’t get my tyres working. Russell will start one place behind Perez after the Red Bull driver also failed to make it out of Q2. Perez is Verstappen’s closest challenger in the championship but a week on from his horror show in Monaco where he finished 16th and two laps down, he qualified only 11th here. The Mexican ran through the gravel and, although he managed to keep his Red Bull out of the wall, his next lap was not quick enough to carry him through to Q3. “Unbelievable,” said Perez. On an afternoon of shock results, Charles Leclerc, who started this race from pole position last year, will line last but one on the grid. Leclerc complained about the rear of his Ferrari and finished above only Williams rookie Logan Sargeant in the order. “I don’t have the answers for now,” said Leclerc following his early bath. “The only thing I can say is the left-hand corners were undriveable.” Q1 was suspended by nine minutes following multiple spins on a track drying out after earlier rain. Alex Albon, Nyck de Vries, Yuki Tsunoda and Valtteri Bottas all ran off the road, and with gravel on the asphalt, race director Niels Wittich red-flagged the session. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Max Verstappen tops rain-hit final practice for Spanish Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton toils in 12th as Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominate in Spain Fernando Alonso: Hamilton can win eighth title but Verstappen can break records