Police Officers on ALS "interpreters"
Today I did an assignment with an organisation that still uses NRPSI interpreters and the police were also involved. I was the only interpreter who was not booked by ALS. Five others were from ALS. I managed to talk to one of them to get as much information as I could about ALS payments and I was told that ALS paid one hour minimum, no travel time unless over 2 hours, travel expenses were paid only if you demanded them to be paid. I was horrified when the same interpreter started talking in front of the victims about her cases she had been dealing with (confidentiality - zero). When I finished my interview, I was shocked when the officers started telling me about ALS "interpreters": how bad they are, that they don't know how to do their job, they turn up hours after being requested or don't turn up at all. The officers looked very desperate for things to go back to normal. Cases are collapsing because of poor performance from ALS "interpreters" and the officers told me they kept complaining to their boss.
I think even if it takes some time, ALS is not here forever!
