Poor interpretation services will lead to miscarriages of justice

The decision taken by the Ministry of Justice in February ?2012 to outsource its court interpreting services to a sole contractor, Applied Language Solutions (ALS), using the new Framework Agreement (FWA) remains a concern. Almost a year down the line initial concerns have escalated as the service supplied by ALS under the FWA has continually failed to provide the quality interpreting services required.

Previously interpreters used in court cases had to be registered with the National Register for Public Service Interpreters (NPRSI) '“ which involves fulfilling rigorous entry criteria with regards to qualifications and experience, and committing to professional standards by signing its Code of Conduct. This is no longer the ?case under the new system.

Disruption and delay

The FWA divides interpreters into three tiers. While NRPSI registered interpreters hold top-tier status, interpreters from the other two tiers are used in circumstances such as legal proceedings and court cases where only highly qualified interpreters should be engaged. The supply of unqualified, inexperienced and incompetent interpreters by ALS has led to disruptions and delays to court cases resulting in additional costs for the judicial system and taxpayer.

In addition, the service provided by ALS '“ recently acquired by Capita Group '“ is reliant on an electronic booking system that is not fit for purpose, resulting in a failure to supply interpreters and interpreting assignments being inefficiently allocated, thereby preventing the justice system from operating efficiently.

As the sole provider for the MoJ the ALS also has monopoly ?status and control over recruitment, pay, price, quality and other factors preventing fair competition and affecting the working conditions of interpreters. This has led to a number of experienced registered professionals leaving the sector and others refusing to work for ALS, further driving down the quality of service provided to the courts.

Independent appraisal

The interpreting profession has been united in its concerns about the outsourcing of court interpreting services to a single provider under the FWA from the outset and consistently expressed these. Its calls for an independent appraisal of the new system, coupled with the consistently poor service delivered by ALS and the FWA, led to investigations by the National Audit Office (NAO) and Public Accounts Committee in the second half of 2012, as well as the current Justice Select Committee inquiry into the provision of interpretation and translation services supplied by ALS.

In response to these inquiries NRPSI requested all relevant sector participants and stakeholders be involved in the review, and highlighted the critical importance of not only using registered interpreters who are appropriately qualified and are accountable, but the vital role that an independent regulator plays in maintaining standards and ensuring the public has equal access to public services.