Peers to probe court interpreting services

By Michael Cross >>

(12 August 2024)

The quality of interpreting and translation services in the courts will come under scrutiny in the House of Lords this autumn. An inquiry by the Lords Public Services Committee announced last week is seeking views following growing concerns about language services. 

According to the announcement, the committee seeks to understand the experience of procuring language services in the courts, policy recommendations for supporting service providers and the potential role of new technology in interpreting and translation.

The committee is inviting written evidence on topics including;

• The extent the current service meets the needs of defendants, prosecutors, witnesses and legal professionals;

• Key issues in the provision of language services and how they impact the running of the courts, public trust, interpreters and translators, including whether there is any data on miscarriages of justice in relation to ITS;

• The qualifications and experience of interpreters and translators and the recruitment process, including any barriers to recruitment;

• Quality assurance and complaints procedure in relation to ITS;

• The potential role of new technology in the future of interpreting or translation services in the courts; and

• The current capability and accuracy of market leading artificial intelligence and machine translation tool.

The committee has invited written evidence to be submitted by 30 September and expects to report on its findings towards the end of the year. It will also hold oral evidence sessions.

Committee chair Baroness Morris of Yardley (former education secretary Estelle Morris) said: ‘It is vital that people in court, including victims of crimes, witnesses and those charged with offences have equal access to justice, can be understood and understand what is happening in the court, regardless of what language they speak. However, there are concerning reports of people struggling to access interpreting and translation services in the courts.

‘Existing issues surrounding the procurement and provision of language services for the public sector have already been highlighted in an October 2023 report by the Association of Translation Companies. That report included a conclusion that the provision of interpretation and language services was fragmented across the UK, which in turn caused complications with procurement and implementing and monitoring best practice. Other studies have also highlighted problems with recruitment and retention of translators due to poor remuneration.’

(Courtesy: The Law Society Gazette)