The BBC's Debbie Tubby spent the day in the FCR to meet the team who take your 999 calls and find out why time-wasters are hindering their ability to help people in genuine need.
Our team of 270 are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and received more than 137,000 999 calls between November 2021 and April 2022.
Please remember, 999 is for genuine emergencies only - if lives are in danger or there is a crime in progress.
For non-emergencies, you can call us on 101 or contact us via essex.police.uk.
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