"Dreadful" ALS interpreter is still given jobs as court complaints are ignored
I attended one of Cheshire courts last month with another colleague to assist solicitors in a family case. There were two ALS Polish interpreters booked by the Court but one apparently rang up 2 hours prior to the hearing to say that she would not be coming so there was only one interpreter who had to sit between two parties - not great for a family case.
We had a chat with the Legal Advisor after the hearing and were told that the interpreter who did attend was not supposed to come any more as she "was dreadful last time" - words used by the Legal Advisor - and this particular Court did not want to use her services any more.
We asked whether anyone is making complaints about interpreters cancelling or not being up to the job but were told that any feedback they have goes only to ALS, not to anyone else. Apparently court staff are not authorised to make complaints to the MoJ.
