12 April 2014
Cumbria's top
judge criticises interpreter delays
Cumbria's
top judge has demanded an explanation after a case at Carlisle Crown Court had
to be put off for the second time because there was no interpreter available.
A
man of Pakistani origin – who speaks Urdu and only a little English – was due
to be sentenced yesterday on charges involving a knife and threats to his
partner.
But
the hearing had to be adjourned after it emerged that, though an interpreter
had been booked to help Arjun Amar from Kendal understand what was going on,
none turned up. It was the second time the case has had to be adjourned.
A
previous hearing could not go ahead for exactly the same reason.
Judge
Paul Batty QC, Carlisle’s Honorary Recorder, described the situation as
“unacceptable” and ordered a written report from the company which should have
provided the interpreter – Capita Translation Services.
“I
simply do not understand how this situation has arisen,” he said. “It certainly
should not have done.”
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