Saturday 26 September 2020

'Do you speak basic English?': Pakistani man from Worcester challenged in court

 https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/18751074.do-speak-basic-english--pakistani-man-worcester-challenged-court/

26th September 2020

'Do you speak basic English?': Pakistani man from Worcester challenged in court

A Pakistani man who 'threatened violence' was challenged by a magistrate about whether he needed an interpreter as he was asked if he understood 'basic English'.

Shabbir Choudhrey of Canterbury Road, Ronskwood, Worcester admitted that he breached a non-molestation order (NMO) when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday.

However, his solicitor, Mark Sheward, asked that the case be adjourned for an interpreter who spoke either Urdu or Punjabi as he did not believe the defendant's English was good enough to understand what was happening in court.

The 42-year-old admitted breaching the NMO on April 8 this year. He 'threatened violence towards Ansa Elsa Ahmed and used abusive language towards her' which was prohibited by the order made at the family court on June 14 last year and amended on September 5 last year.

Mr Sheward said of his client 'he does understand some English and he's able to answer questions that are put to him'.

However, he added: "The problem is that he doesn't understand everything."

Mr Sheward told magistrates he had asked his client some questions and on some occasions he had 'looked at me blankly'.

"I think he would benefit from an interpreter" said the city solicitor.

Mr Sheward added: "It's going to be a guilty plea."

However, David Shadwell, the chairman of the bench, said the WhatsApp messages he had seen from the defendant 'were in perfectly good English'.

Mr Sheward said those messages were not written by the defendant but by his brother-in-law, acting on his behalf. He said the defendant's brother-in-law had previously interpreted for him. Mr Sheward said: "But my Urdu isn't what it was."

Mr Shadwell then put questions to Choudhrey directly in the dock, asking him why he was concerned about not understanding what was being said in court.

The defendant replied: "Again please."

The chairman persisted, asking very slowly: "Do you understand basic English communication?"

Choudhrey answered that he did. He was further asked: "Is the speech communication your worry, that you cannot understand us?"

However, this was met with silence from the defendant and the chairman said that answered his question.

Magistrates then agreed to adjourn for an interpreter until Thursday, October 1 when the defendant is expected to be sentenced. He was granted unconditional bail until then.

Tuesday 22 September 2020

"They did not offer an interpreter"

 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/migrant-domestic-abuse-survivors-horror-public-agencies-b531191.html

22nd September 2020

[…] “One day during an argument he exerted physical violence towards me. I was very scared and decided to go to the police. The response from the police was that due to my insecure immigration status, they could not help me. They did not offer an interpreter nor took me to the hospital despite the bruises I had on my body.” […]

 

Sunday 13 September 2020

A Bid for Justice? Legal Interpreting Privatisation in Europe

 https://onesmallwindow.wordpress.com/2020/09/13/a-bid-for-justice-legal-interpreting-privatisation-in-europe/

13th September 2020

A Bid for Justice? Legal Interpreting Privatisation in Europe

[…] Public authorities have used contracts with LSPs to source their translation and interpreting needs for many years. Many of these have been small individual contracts by local authorities, police forces and hospitals, for example. The British government upped the game in 2011 when it entered a £168 million (€185 million) 4-year framework agreement to provide interpreting and translation services across the justice sector and a separate 5-year contract for courts with a single supplier. [[…]

Read more here: https://onesmallwindow.wordpress.com/2020/09/13/a-bid-for-justice-legal-interpreting-privatisation-in-europe/

 

Tuesday 1 September 2020

PQ: 1st September 2020

 https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2020-07-22.78936.h

Health Services: Internet

Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered on 1st September 2020.

Nadia Whittome Labour, Nottingham East

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the availability of interpreters for remote medical consultations.

Nadine Dorries Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is aware of the complexities of interpreting for remote medical consultations, including the need for interpreter services to adapt their processes to align with this new type of video consultation. We are developing our support offer to help trusts engage with the widest possible audience of patients, through initiatives like sound-only access to the call for interpreters. We will continue to support and share innovative practices in interpreter services as part of this effort.