May 7, 2013
Language problems cause
delays at Shrewsbury Crown Court
A case at Shrewsbury Crown Court had to be adjourned
twice after an interpreter could not be found, it was revealed today.
Barristers have blamed the problem on changes which
have seen the centralisation of the service.
Courts can no longer book their own
interpreters and have to deal with an organisation working on behalf of
the Government.
It is part of a reform of criminal legal aid to cut costs that will see just nine law firms appointed to do criminal court work in
Shropshire, with the public having no choice in who appears for them in a
criminal hearing.
On Thursday, a three-day-trial due to be held at
the crown court had to be adjourned for the second time in a week because a
interpreter that had been booked for the defendant was not available.
Judge Peter Barrie apologised to the defendant and
witnesses and said that because of centralisation of services, the courts were
no longer able to approach translators directly.
Barristers Mr Ian Ball and Mr David Munro, said the
difficulties were indicative of the government’s shake-up of the criminal
justice system.
Consultation, under way over the Ministry of
Justice document Transforming Legal Aid, will end in June.
Possible changes include fee cuts of up to 17.5 per
cent, competitive tendering for legal aid contracts and clients no longer being
able to choose their own defence lawyer.
Mr Ball said: “We are united in our fight against
this.”
Mr Munro, of St Philips Chambers, added: “It will
change the whole landscape of the justice system.
“The aim is to cut the number of criminal case
solicitors’ firms in England and Wales from 1,600 to 400.
“Just 20 will be given contracts for the whole of
the West Midlands and just nine for the West Mercia and Warwickshire region.
“The public will not have a choice and anyone
charged with a criminal offence will be allocated a solicitor.”
The shake-up will also have a huge effect on
barristers, both men agreed.
“Crown Court advocacy fees are being recommended to
be cut by between 20 per cent and 30 per cent,” Mr Ball said.
“For some long court cases it will mean that
barristers could earn just £15 a day.”
Kirsty Sewter from Capita, which has the contract
for interpreter services, said: “When issues do arise, Capita has a robust
management procedure in place that ensures all complaints are
investigated."
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