Breach of court order which the defendant didn't understand without an interpreter
Yesterday I attended one of Norfolk Police Investigation Centres, where a Latvian gentleman was detained. It appears that a week ago he attended Colchester Magistrates' Court for a drink driving offence. There was no Latvian interpreter present so the case was adjourned until this week. There was a bail condition attached that he must not drive any motor vehicle in any public place or road in the UK. However, the gentleman did not understand this, as no interpreter was present, so yesterday he was stopped by Norfolk Police and remanded in custody until Monday for breaching the court order.
His solicitor at the police station was furious and said that in her experience the interpreting service is rapidly declining.
