Southampton Crown Court using unqualified "interpreters"
On Friday, 23rd March, I went to Southampton Crown Court to find an unqualified Polish “interpreter” in Court 3. The so-called interpreter’s first name is Pawel. I was told that Pawel now attends this court most days, since the Framework Agreement came into place in February.
I was informed that Pawel sat the Metropolitan Police Test last year but failed. This means that he will not be covered by any kind of indemnity insurance, and is putting himself and his clients at risk.
Hence, with the new Framework Agreement, unqualified so-called interpreters get to work at Crown Courts, whilst qualified interpreters cannot attend court because they refuse to be associated with such an unprofessional organisation (ALS).
In this instance, the court listings online shows the following:
23-03-2012
3
S20120056
Lech Pawel Mielczarek
Committal For Sentence - Interpreter Sworn - 11:37
http://www.thelawpages.com/court-hearings-lists/crown-court-lists-results.php
Southampton Crown Court is clearly swearing in unqualified interpreters (almost every day)!
