News
Leicestershire Police Force is leading on a National Police Framework for language services. Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 detainees have a legal right to be represented by an interpreter during the evidential process. The new specification developed by the UK Police Service requires interpreters to be DPSI qualified to carry out any interpreting assignments.
A decision not to grant asylum to an Eritrean woman was overturrned after the court-appointed interpreter ranted angrily about her case to a lawyer at the bus stop outside the hearing, raising more questions about what checks are made on the professionalism of language experts relied on in the courts.
Outsourcing has lowered the standard of language services available, professionals claim
Asked by Baroness Coussins
Asked on: 14 October 2019
Ministry of Justice
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HL20
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the contract with thebigword to provide interpreting and translation services in the criminal justice system will be reviewed.
