Public service interpreters have been under the spotlight recently for all the wrong reasons.
There are too many public service interpreters who have been allowed to slip through the net without meeting any minimum criteria you’d take as read.
To this end, Baroness Coussins proposed an amendment to the Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill in November 2021. In her proposal, she demanded the introduction of legal entry level standards for public service interpreters who operate in courts and also in tribunal situations.
The Baroness’s proposal was backed by Lord Berkeley of Knighton, based on his experience of “… having seen on a couple of occasions interpreters who I thought could barely speak English. Imagine the confusion when the Interpreter confused ‘car’ with ‘cow’.”
It’s almost laughable. But it’s no so funny when you put in to context just how pivotal the role of public service interpreters can be.
What Jobs do Public Service Interpreters Work on?
Public service interpreters can work on a broad range of different assignments, from education to events and tourism.
Their work can be conducted in person, and also over the telephone or a Zoom call, depending on the specific nature of the work.
Accuracy is non-negotiable due to the gravitas of the situations they might become involved in, such as –
- Benefit reviews
- Court cases
- Employment and other tribunals
- Healthcare appointments
- Housing Authority business
- Immigration proceedings
- Medical emergencies
- Police interviews
- Social Services matters
At Accutranslate, you have peace of mind that our team members are NRPSI-certified with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters. We’d like to hear from you if need expert help to communicate in any public sector field in any language.
Get in touch with us on 0800 466 1335 or click here.
Sources
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, Hansard, UK Parliament