Essex Police is to get a hi-tech call centre costing taxpayers £8 million a year following a 110 per cent rise in calls.

The county's police authority yesterday backed the scheme which will create 150 new jobs and ensure the public get through to the correct person first time.

The move comes just weeks after authority chairman Robert Chambers said the current call centre had "failed miserably".

The new centre will help filter 999 and non-emergency and calls to the right people and keep the public informed about investigations and court cases.

The cost of the new building, which will be built near police headquarters in Chelmsford, is not yet known but running costs will be up to £8 million a year.

Published Tuesday, September 14, 2004

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