ANOTHER INTERPRETER ERROR RESULTS IN RETRIAL

Only months into the contract for Applied Language Solutions (ALS) – who now provide all interpreting and translation services for the Courts Service – and more errors have come to light.

A trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court collapsed after the Romanian interpreter made a mistake translating ‘beaten them’ for ‘bitten’.  The retrial is estimated that it will cost £25,000.

Whilst mistakes are only human, the numerous errors are being put down to the poor quality of interpreters because 60% of interpreters are boycotting ALS due to poor pay and conditions.

Criminal Defence practitioners and boycotting interpreters alike have already been making anecdotal reports where interpreters could not be sourced leading to adjournments, where interpreters have failed to speak proper English nor the language they are being paid to interpret.

We at Morton’s Solicitors have borne witness to the incompetence and shortage of interpreters.  We have made strong representations both at the Police Station and at Court to ensure that our clients are not unnecessarily disadvantaged nor unlawfully detained through no fault of their own.