18 September 2009 http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2009/09/18/story13807756t0.shtm
Police cash lost in translation
Translators called in by Tayside Police to deal with foreign speakers cost the force more than £70,000 last year — a 70% increase on the year before (writes David Clegg).
The figures, obtained under Freedom of Information legislation, show that £73,389 was spent on interpreters in 2008/09 compared to £42,561 the previous financial year.
The rise is explained by the growing number of criminals, witnesses or victims who cannot speak English, with the number of interviews requiring interpreters almost doubling in the last two years.
Between April 2008 and the end of March this year, 202 interviews with Tayside officers were carried out with the aid of an interpreter, with Polish (84), Lithuanian (21) and Chinese Mandarin (19) being the language most frequently used.
That compares with only 118 interviews conducted the previous year and 102 in 2006/07.
The rising costs of interpreting services was discussed at a recent meeting of the force’s executive body.
A force spokesman said, “Tayside Police has a duty to provide high standards of service to everyone who comes into contact with the force and to ensure everyone has equal access to those services.
“The police must be able to interact with people whatever language they speak or individual requirements they have.
“This ensures a quality of service provision and that everyone concerned is fully and appropriately informed and advised of any given situation.
“We provide access to over 100 community languages. In addition, sign language options are available for those who have sensory impairments.”
The Freedom of Information request revealed that since 2006, Tayside Police has used an external firm called Alpha to provide face-to-face interpreting and translation services.
In July 2009, the most recent month for which figures are available, their services were required for 23 interviews.
The languages involved included Bulgarian, Chinese Cantonese, Polish, Romanian and Tamil.
Another company, Language Line Services, provide telephone interpreting to the force and this service has also seen a notable rise in recent years.
There were 628 calls made last year requiring translating services compared to 465 the previous year and 428 in 2006/07.
It emerged last week that at least £25 million was spent by police forces in England and Wales on interpreting services last year.
Discussing those figures, shadow immigration minister Damian Green said the cost showed the strain immigration had put on public services.
Police cash lost in translation
Translators called in by Tayside Police to deal with foreign speakers cost the force more than £70,000 last year — a 70% increase on the year before (writes David Clegg).
The figures, obtained under Freedom of Information legislation, show that £73,389 was spent on interpreters in 2008/09 compared to £42,561 the previous financial year.
The rise is explained by the growing number of criminals, witnesses or victims who cannot speak English, with the number of interviews requiring interpreters almost doubling in the last two years.
Between April 2008 and the end of March this year, 202 interviews with Tayside officers were carried out with the aid of an interpreter, with Polish (84), Lithuanian (21) and Chinese Mandarin (19) being the language most frequently used.
That compares with only 118 interviews conducted the previous year and 102 in 2006/07.
The rising costs of interpreting services was discussed at a recent meeting of the force’s executive body.
A force spokesman said, “Tayside Police has a duty to provide high standards of service to everyone who comes into contact with the force and to ensure everyone has equal access to those services.
“The police must be able to interact with people whatever language they speak or individual requirements they have.
“This ensures a quality of service provision and that everyone concerned is fully and appropriately informed and advised of any given situation.
“We provide access to over 100 community languages. In addition, sign language options are available for those who have sensory impairments.”
The Freedom of Information request revealed that since 2006, Tayside Police has used an external firm called Alpha to provide face-to-face interpreting and translation services.
In July 2009, the most recent month for which figures are available, their services were required for 23 interviews.
The languages involved included Bulgarian, Chinese Cantonese, Polish, Romanian and Tamil.
Another company, Language Line Services, provide telephone interpreting to the force and this service has also seen a notable rise in recent years.
There were 628 calls made last year requiring translating services compared to 465 the previous year and 428 in 2006/07.
It emerged last week that at least £25 million was spent by police forces in England and Wales on interpreting services last year.
Discussing those figures, shadow immigration minister Damian Green said the cost showed the strain immigration had put on public services.
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