06 November 2015
Page
9
“On some occasions, difficulties with the HMCTS-managed court
interpreter contract meant the court was unable to consider bail for detainees who
could not speak English. When this happened, the lack of telephone interpreter
services meant that custody staff, despite their best efforts, could not
explain to detainees what had happened or where they were being taken.”
Page
27
“We found evidence at some courts of serious consequences for
detainees arising from the lack of suitable interpretation services, especially
where the HMCTS-commissioned court interpreter service had failed to send an
interpreter to court, a situation which could mean the court was unable to
consider bail.
‘We noted on several occasions interpreters had not attended court
and detainees had been remanded in custody. This had been noted by Lay
Observers… These difficulties were compounded because the custody staff had no
access to a telephone interpreting service in the custody suites. Consequently,
detainees refused bail could be taken to prison without understanding what had
happened in court or where they were going.’
(Norfolk and
Suffolk)”
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