ALS mess in Camberwell
I popped in to Camberwell Magistrates this morning to drop off an old claim form.... asked the bookings lady behind the counter how the new system was going... She told me that there were 3 Romanian defendants waiting for - get this - 3 separate interpreters to turn up from ALS!! So much for streamlining and cost efficiency!! Only one had turned up so far (this was at 11.30).... As we were talking, the said Romanian interpreter came to the front window (crappy old jeans, claimed to be NR, good English) to get his form signed. The solicitors for the other 2 Romanian defendants were pleading with him to cover for their clients as well, but he refused as he had to be in Croydon at 1 pm for another hearing...
Then onto my (pre-booked) hearing at another court to find the listings staff tearing their hair out... a Lithuanian ALS interpreter booked for 12 informed them she had to leave at 12.30 for another booking at 1 pm... some other ALS guy just sat in the corridor for 3 hours waiting for someone to call out his name...
