Warning that increased use of unqualified interpreters will backfire
2014-01-24
Professional interpreter organisations are warning that the increased use of unauthorised Tier 3 interpreters in court, whose language skills are below A-level standard, will back-fire, creating delays and wasting tax payers’ money.
Cases are being delayed or adjourned because Capita, the Ministry of Justice’s contractor for its language service contract, is failing to provide suitably qualified court interpreters, including a case this week (23 January) at Kingston Crown Court, adjourned until July because an interpreter requested in June 2013 failed to attend on the first day of the trial.
A National Audit Office ‘Progress Update’ (published 22 January) on the Ministry of Justice’s language services contract says the proportion of Tier 3 interpreters working in courts has increased from 3% in October 2012 to 10% in November 2013. Tier 3 interpreters have basic level training and no formal qualifications. They were used in over 1,400 cases in November. In 2013 the Ministry of Justice improved the contract terms for Capita but its performance targets are still not being met.
Of the 23 courts the National Audit Office questioned which used Tier 3 interpreters, 91% told the National Audit Office they were booked because Capita, the Ministry of Justice’s contractor for the service, could not provide the level of interpreter they wanted. Over half said they didn’t seek approval from the judge before making the booking.
In an independent survey at the end of last year, 74% of the 1,172 interpreters who took part said they have not registered with Capita.
Keith Moffitt, Chair, Chartered Institute of Linguists, says: “There are a lot of unanswered questions which this new NAO Report has rightly brought to light, including why only £46,000 in fines has been levied when millions of pounds of wasted court time has been caused.”
Figures estimated by Professional Interpreters for Justice for the thousands of court case delays show that over £17 million pounds of tax payers’ money has been lost through failed trials and wasted court time since the contract began.
Paul Wilson, chief executive of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, says: “I’d like to know how many sub-contractors Capita is using and what checks are being made on the quality of interpreters they are providing. Also why there is no independent scrutiny. The Ministry of Justice is relying on data provided by its contractor.”
Professional Interpreters for Justice is also urging the Public Accounts Committee on 27 January to question the stated ‘savings’ of £15 million when the costs of delayed cases have not been considered. Ann Beasley and Peter Handcock will answer questions on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
Sourse: Institute of Linguists
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