Essex Police Slammed as 999 Calls Soar for Non-Emergencies
Essex Police’s control room is drowning in thousands of daily calls, but a growing number of 999 calls are wasting precious emergency resources on non-urgent issues.
Nearly 1,200 Calls in a Day – Many Don’t Need 999
On Friday 27 May alone, Essex Police took almost 1,200 calls. Only 220 of these were genuine emergencies. Yet, people kept ringing 999 for trivial matters, blocking the line for those in real danger.
Examples of pointless 999 calls include:
- A man calling 999 just to ask for the non-emergency number he could easily find online.
- A lorry driver reporting a taxi blocking a warehouse entrance, despite knowing the taxi company and no public road was affected.
- A van rolling slightly in a car park due to a handbrake failure – the owner showed up during the call and sorted it out.
Police Plead for Common Sense
Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper, Head of Contact Management, said:
“Our call handlers work tirelessly to get help to those who need it most. But 999 is being clogged by non-emergency calls, delaying urgent responses. If you don’t need immediate police action, please use the correct channels.
He urged the public to:
- Check the Essex Police website first for info.
- Use online reporting or Live Chat for non-emergencies.
- Ring 101 for situations not requiring an immediate response.
Know When to Call 999 – And When Not To
Call 999 only if:
- A crime is in progress with life or property at risk.
- Criminals or suspects are nearby and pose danger.
- There’s a serious incident needing urgent police help, like injury or a major traffic crash.
For all other issues:
- Visit Essex.police.uk for information.
- Contact local councils or relevant agencies for environment or other concerns.
- Report crimes after the fact using the website, Live Chat, or call 101.
Essex Police want to help everyone. But to do that, you must use the right service at the right time. Don’t block emergency lines with non-urgent calls – lives depend on it.
