NEWS UPDATE A CALL FOR HELP TO ALL PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETERS

Firstly, thank you for your on-going support in the battle to get the Framework Agreement and the contract with Applied Language Solutions/Capita scrapped. The next two weeks are critical in our campaign as two important inquiries reach a climax and we redouble our efforts in achieving national media coverage. Heres how you can help 1. We need you to contact your local BBC radio station and if possible the local paper in your area and tell them about whats gone on and (if possible) give your own local information. Below you will find a script to help you. You can also refer them to Involvis see below for details. If theres a local solicitor or Barrister you know who is angry about whats going on then get them active on this too. 2. We need you to continue to report incidences of ALS interpreters disrupting trials by appearing late or not at all, or by not being competent. It is important you get the date and the case number or name and tell us which court this happened at. Twitter #dontforgetyourtoothbrush Tweet your news and use the hashtags #dontforgetyourtoothbrush and #deathtotheMOJFWA to refer to the inquiries. Also follow @United4Justice (Interpreters for Justice) for updates on the campaign.

A guide to your conversation with BBC radio or local papers

There are two House of Commons inquiries reaching a head in the next two weeks and theres evidence here locally to make this newsworthy in our area. 1. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee is holding a public meeting on Monday 15th October about the shocking failings uncovered by the National Audit Office into the way interpreters are being supplied in courts. 2. This affects justice because witnesses and defendants who dont speak English as their first language need a professional interpreter to accurately interpret so they can fully understand and take part. 3. The Justice Select Committee is also holding a public hearing on 23rd October where representatives from interpreters organisations have been asked to give evidence. 4. The interpreters being supplied to courts are booked by a company called Applied Language Solutions who won a Ministry of Justice Contract worth millions but they are failing miserably. 5. Interpreters supplied by ALS are not suitably qualified or experienced for court work. Professional interpreters wont work for them because the Government set up a new agreement in the wrong way and they will not listen to whats gone wrong. 6. Many ALS interpreters dont appear on time if at all and they often dont understand whats going on themselves. Its wasting tax payers money because trials are delayed but more importantly these people arent getting a fair trial which is their right. Some are remanded on bail time and time again because of no interpreter.

7. I am a professional interpreter and I have refused to work for Applied Language Solutions as have 90% of the professionally qualified interpreters who previously worked in courts under the old system. Theres independent evidence to verify this. 8. I can give you local examples and tell you my experience of whats gone on [mention your local court and give any local examples you have]. 9. I can arrange other people for you to interview as well. 10. The Chairman of the Association of Police and Court Interpreters, Geoffrey Buckingham, will be giving evidence at the National Audit Office inquiry and will do radio interviews. Telephone 07973 759676. 11. Guillermo Makin, Chairman of the Society for Public Service Interpreters, will also do interviews. Telephone 07951 580604. For further background: Involvis has been collating evidence of court hearings gone wrong under the contract and can send you a press release or some more background and can answer any questions. You can contact Penny Arbuthnot at Involvis using the below details: penny.arbuthnot@involvis.co.uk / 01473 326341 / 07885 238374