The quality of interpreting and translation services

We submitted written evidence to the House of Lords Public Services Committee on interpreting and translation services in courts, sharing insights gathered from our members. Magistrates reported significant challenges, including frequent booking failures, incorrect language assignments, and limited interpreter availability which led to delays, adjournments, and misunderstandings. Our recommendations to the House of Lords include improving booking processes, expanding interpreter training, enhancing remote technology for accuracy, and exploring the cautious use of AI in interpretation. We also advocated for better interpreter recruitment and training standards, addressing rarer languages, and providing flexibility to support defendants and court staff alike.