When will the MoJ admit that they made a mistake?
Some more information about Als, from a colleague who got sick of their lies and has now decided to say no to ALS.
A real mess of their wonderful technology. Bookings are made by operators from different 4 calling centres from different parts of the world. Three or four operators calling at the same time with various bookings in various areas of the country. One operator books an interpreter but a few moments later another operator calls with another booking for another court, the same time of the day. Double bookings in Courts! One operator books one linguist for one court but at the same time another linguist got the same booking from another operator.
Some efficient booking system! Several linguists booked for the same job or one linguist booked for two jobs hundreds of miles away by different operators at the same time; Operator 1 from far eastern part of the world is unaware linguists had already been booked by operator 2 from far western part of the world, that is when they manage to find linguists who are available for the bookings.
No written agreement about payment. The bookings, in both Magistrates’ Courts and Crown Courts are Tier 2 jobs even for fully qualified interpreters. Jobs are placed in different tiers and not interpreters.
That is their translation of “efficient allocation” and “coordinated service delivery”.
From another colleague who was at Westminster MC today, reporting for us. Another day of chaos that turned into a nightmare for Court staff, Romanian defendants and poor Als linguist who had to deal with several cases as no one else was available to come and help from Als and no NRPSI was willing to assist the Court. The linguist turned up in Court around lunch time for a 9.30 a.m. booking. Everybody in despair. The linguist, inexperienced and unqualified, had to deal with several extradition cases. One of the defendants did consent to extradition without understanding anything as the linguist herself could not understand or cope. No legal terms understood or translated. Solicitor had to intervene. In the end the judge, sick and tired of the situation, asked for clarification as to when the linguist had been booked to attend Westminster MC for the 9.30 case. She said she had been booked last night but although she reminded the operator that she already had a booking for West London MC in the morning she was asked to go to Westminster MC as soon as she finished the first assignment. That was not to be before lunch time...
Als cannot cope, they are inefficient, and the linguists they send are useless and drained, scared and depressed.
The quality and efficiency Courts used to have were not appreciated enough. When are they going to admit they have made a mistake?
Please do not help Als and the Courts. It is our only chance.
Best of luck to us all!
