HMCTS Interpreting Reports
An alleged rapist wanted for breaching his bail is on the run again after magistrates freed him because they couldn't find an interpreter.
In an effort to tell them of the progress of the case, the court clerk's computer was programmed to use the Google Translate software. The message rang out: "Coming back on Monday."
No interpreter was available and the case was first put back to Monday afternoon before it was rescheduled to Tuesday morning.
The case was again put back to Tuesday afternoon until an interpreter was arranged to carry out the translation over-the-phone during the hearing.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many formal complaints there have been related to interpreter services in each year since that service was contracted out; and what the main reason was in each of those years for such complaints.
