- Details
- Written by Law Society Gazette
- Category: News
Hundreds of court cases requiring an interpreter were disrupted in the first quarter as outsourcer Capita continued to fall short of its required performance target.
The statistics for the first three months of 2014 show a rise in the number of requests fulfilled, although the figure remains well below its contractual commitment of 98%.
The number of requests for an interpreter rose to 45,100 – the highest since the contract began in January 2012.
The percentage of requests completed rose by 4% from the last quarter of 2013 - to 94.5% - equal to the previous peak in the third quarter of 2012.
But this means there were still 2,480 cases disrupted due to the lack of an interpreter. At no point since the contract began has Capita reached the 98% performance target.
The data shows the overall number of complaints about the service have fallen to the lowest number since the contract began.
There were 1,000 (2.2% of cases) complaints, down by 21% from the 1,200 in the last three months of 2013 and a 54% fall compared to the 2,100 complaints made in the first quarter of 2013.
- Details
- Written by Grantham Journal
- Category: HMCTS Interpreting Reports
The case of two men charged in relation to the handling of stolen Mercedes vehicles has been adjourned so that evidence can be provided to the defence and appropriate interpreters arranged.
Maksim Filiusin, 35, of Oxford Street, Grantham is charged with one count of handling the stolen Mercedes Sprinters, while Irmantas Urbonas, 37, of Belton Avenue, Grantham, faces one count of attempting to handle the stolen vans.
Both matters date back to March 1 of last year, but the two men were only recently charged on June 23.
Representing Mr Urbonas, Mr Middleton described the case as ‘labyrinthine’ and requested an adjournment so that more evidence could be provided by the CPS.
The case was also unable to proceed because no appropriate interpreters were available.
- Details
- Written by Brendan Pells
- Category: The Letters Page
- Details
- Written by Malcolm Fowler
- Category: Analysis and Comment
Rearrange the phrase or saying that includes these words: ‘rings’, ‘round’ and ‘running’. As the subject, start with ‘Capita (and previously Applied Language Solutions (ALS))’. Insert the verb ‘are’ and conclude with ‘HM Courts & Tribunals Service (aka the Ministry of Justice)’. And there you have it.
The reputable interpreter associations have been producing irrefutable evidence about the dismal plummeting in standards ever since the ministry insisted on the framework agreement against all evidence and reasoned arguments.
In the face of all common sense, it awarded an enormous and unachievable contract to Gavin Wheeldon’s one-man-band ALS, which was promptly gobbled up as a tasty morsel by Capita. What has ensued has been delivery which is but a pale shadow of the earlier national agreement regime, which worked satisfactorily for years.
- Details
- Written by Oldham Evening Chronicle
- Category: News
WORRIED employees of languages company Capita fear they will lose their jobs if proposals to relocate the business to Poland go ahead.
The language and translation services business, based in Huddersfield Road, Delph, has started a four-week consultation period that has left workers worried for their future.
A Capita Translation and Interpreting spokesman said expanding the use of the company’s centre in Krakow, Poland could result in up to 30 local jobs being subject to redundancy.
“We hope some employees will be able to find suitable redeployment opportunities within Capita,” he said. Capita has 165 British staff and 210 worldwide and the proposals will not close the Delph centre.
The firm supplies translators for the justice system through government-funded contracts.
The mother of a 24-year-old Oldham man, who has worked at Capita for over two years, has written to Business Secretary Vince Cable to express her disgust.