The Rising Costs of Cheap Translation and Interpreting Using Unqualified Linguists

A trial at a London court recently collapsed after an unqualified interpreter mistakenly gave the wrong evidence.

A Romanian defendant giving evidence at Snaresbrook Crown Court said the claimant had “beaten them” but the interpreter translated this as “bitten”.

The mistake came to light once the prosecution questioned the defendant. The judge then ordered a retrial.

The Defence solicitor said the interpreter told the court she realised she had made a mistake but had kept quiet about it. When the prosecution cross-examined the defendant, towards the end of the four-day trial for burglary, they asked for evidence of the defendant being bitten. The defendant then said they had been “beaten”.

Mr Sharma said it was inexcusable that a re-trial had to take place as not only had the victim had to recover from the experience, but they then had to go through the alleged incident for a third time, having already given evidence at the trial.

The retrial cost around £25,000.

What is the true cost of a correct and accurate translation or interpretation?

The answer is that this is “incalculable”.

In many instances a court would favour the appointment of an interpreter if the defendant or legal counsel asks for one or appears to not understand what is being said and if English is not their first language.

Sometimes, we know that courts try to avert the use of interpreters to avoid delays, speed up proceedings and save costs, taking the “let us see how we get on” approach without one. But can this approach be justified in the long-term? Naturally, what the court does not wish to happen is that at the end of the trial or hearing, the defendant states that they did not understand what was happening and there is an adjournment or retrial or appeal.

In a hearing at a Crown Court in London recently, upon the request of the defense counsel to appoint an interpreter on behalf of his client, the judge asked whether the defendant really needed one, adding that “using interpreters when it is not necessary gives the impression that people are hiding behind them and is a bad use of public money”. Surely costs of a retrial due to initially cutting corners and using unqualified and experienced interpreters is a “bad use of public money”. The perception of an interpreter and someone who does not have English as their first language needs to be changed. This distrust and prejudice of non-English speakers is extended to the interpreter is some cases whereby the court believes that interpreters exercise a certain level of control over the person assisted and they can therefore substantially influence the outcome of a case. This may be the case when inexperienced interpreters are used. However, using the services of an accredited agency such as Dixon Associates, means this would not happen and has never happened with one of our qualified and experienced linguists. The rules governing the profession mandate that interpreters remain passive actors and unobtrusive figures, limiting themselves to interpreting word by word, from one language to another. The Codes of Conduct of the ITI, ATC and IOL of which we are members, reveal that an interpreter “shall interpret truly and faithfully what is uttered, without adding, omitting or changing anything”.

Unqualified and inexperienced interpreters are most definitely an obstacle in the court room. Using qualified and experienced interpreters however, provide valuable linguistic, cultural and legal expertise. Avoid delays, additional costs and complications, by choosing one of our linguists here at Dixon Associates.

Please call us on +44 (0)1902 312988 for further details in this respect or email us.

Being Understood – A Foreign Language Should be no Barrier to Justice

A Polish client, of one of our solicitor client firms, had been the victim of an RTA. The defendant had attempted to imply that it was the claimant”s fault, assuming her lack of knowledge of the English language would result in her not being able to defend herself. However,  the claimant, through the assistance of an interpreter, was able to explain the full facts of the incident, such that, the defendant had been texting on the phone and subsequently crashed into her car and was in fact driving without due care and attention.

A statement was prepared in Polish and English which the claimant signed and which was disputed by the defendant as being the truth.

The matter went to court. The interpreter did not have to attend the trial, but was able connect via the Court CVP system and interpreted remotely, live into the court room.

The case was successful and the claimant won her claim for personal injuries, compensation and costs.

This would not have been possible had she not been able to give a full account of what happened on the day, in her native language, duly and accurately translated firstly in writing and then verbally in the court room, on the day.

This is a regular occurrence for Dixon Associates, whereby we are asked to translate or interpret for non-English speaking clients in court in cases such as RTAs, accidents at work, breaches of contracts of employment, etc.

Please call us on +44 (0)1902 312988 for further details in this respect or email us.