interpreters – Current Awareness

In your own words – 3 Hare Court

Posted February 10th, 2025 in accidents, chambers articles, civil procedure rules, evidence, interpreters, news, personal injuries, practice directions, witnesses by tracey

‘Frequently, in overseas injury claims, one (or perhaps both) of the parties seeks to adduce evidence from a witness whose first language is not English. Before getting to the issue as to whether that witness will be able to give oral evidence at trial by video (a topic for another day), there will need to be a suitable written statement for that witness. The experience of a witness statement in English put before the court when it becomes quickly apparent that the witness is unable to speak or read English, is not a happy one. It is important to bear in mind the requirements of the CPR as to how the statements of witnesses in such cases should be prepared.’

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3 Hare Court, 6th February 2025

Source: www.3harecourt.com

Understanding the risk of discharge of duty – Nearly Legal

Posted October 11th, 2022 in appeals, housing, interpreters, local government, news by tracey

‘Our grateful thanks to Angharad Monk of Garden Court (and instructing solicitor Anne Spowart of Morrison Spowart) for this note of judgment in a section 204 Housing Act 1996 appeal of Waltham Forest’s decision to discharge duty. Mekonen v LB Waltham Forest, County Court at Central London, 8 August 2022.’

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Nearly Legal, 9th October 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Victims of crime wrongly arrested due to ‘huge gaps’ in language support with women hard hit – The Independent

Posted March 15th, 2022 in crime, criminal justice, interpreters, news, reports, victims by tracey

‘Victims of crime who speak English as their second language have been unfairly arrested when seeking support from the police due to the criminal justice system’s “huge gaps” in language support, new research suggests.’

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The Independent, 15th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

R (Rowley) v Minister for the Cabinet Office – Equality Law Blog

Posted October 14th, 2021 in coronavirus, disabled persons, equality, interpreters, judicial review, ministers' powers and duties, news by sally

‘In this case the High Court (Fordham J) ruled that the respondent had discriminated against the claimant, who was profoundly deaf, by failing to provide of British sign language (“BSL”) interpreters for Government live briefings to the public about the Covid-19 pandemic on 21 September 2020 and 12 October 2020. The claimant challenged the failures on those occasions and also sought to challenge the respondent’s continuing refusal to use “on-platform” as distinct from “in-screen” BSL interpreters for briefings. The claimant sought to establish failures of the PSED imposed by s149 of the Equality Act 2010 in respect of the defendant’s ongoing approach to briefings, as well as failures of the duty to make reasonable adjustments imposed by ss20 and 29(7)(a) of the Act. The PSED claim failed as did the reasonable adjustment challenge to ongoing (“in-screen” BSL) briefings. The decision includes a comprehensive discussion of the leading authorities on disability discrimination in the context of services/public authorities.’

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Equality Law Blog, 13th October 2021

Source: equalitylawblog.com

Covid: Deaf campaigner takes legal action over No 10 briefings – BBC News

Posted June 17th, 2021 in coronavirus, disabled persons, interpreters, judicial review, media, ministers' powers and duties, news by sally

‘A deaf campaigner is taking legal action against the government, after complaining that it failed to provide in-person British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters at No 10 Covid briefings.’

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BBC News, 16th May 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Afghan interpreters’ UK immigration fee waived – BBC News

Posted May 4th, 2018 in Afghanistan, armed forces, fees, immigration, interpreters, news by tracey

‘Afghan interpreters who served with British troops fighting against the Taliban will be able to stay in the UK for free, the home secretary has said. More than 150 Afghans given five-year residency permits said they faced being sent back to Afghanistan when they expire, unless they paid £2,389 to apply for indefinite leave to remain. Sajid Javid said the fees have been waived.’

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BBC News, 8th May 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sri Lankan wins lawsuit against NHS as midwives fail to explain why she needed to feed her son due to language barrier – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 16th, 2018 in birth, hospitals, interpreters, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘A Sri Lankan refugee who could not speak English has won a legal battle against the NHS after her child was brain damaged after hospital staff did not explain the importance of feeding a newborn.’

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Daily Telegraph, 13th April 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

High Court halts deportation of Afghan interpeter who worked with British Army – The Independent

Posted December 7th, 2017 in armed forces, deportation, interpreters, news by sally

‘An Afghan interpreter who was due to be deported imminently has had his removal from the UK halted after the High Court ordered he be released from detention.’

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The Independent, 7th December 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

QOCS: The Strike Out and Fundamental Dishonesty Exceptions in Action – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted August 25th, 2016 in civil procedure rules, costs, evidence, fundamental dishonesty, interpreters, news, striking out by sally

‘There are still relatively few findings of fundamental dishonesty being made by Courts. Despite the fact that this is obviously an important exception to the QOCS regime, the fundamental dishonesty threshold is proving a difficult hurdle for Defendants to meet. This article explores a recent finding of fundamental dishonesty and the lessons that can be learned by Claimants and Defendants in such cases.’

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Hardwicke Chamebrs, 17th August 2016

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Interpreters lose MoJ race bias challenge – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 17th, 2016 in appeals, employment, employment tribunals, interpreters, news, race discrimination, self-employment by sally

‘The Employment Tribunal did not ’misdirect’ itself when it dismissed two interpreters’ claims for racial discrimination against the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 17th May 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Afghan interpreter asks ‘how many more must die’ as he loses High Court fight – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 10th, 2016 in Afghanistan, appeals, armed forces, immigration, interpreters, news by sally

‘An Afghan interpreter who served alongside British troops on the front line has pleaded to be “allowed to live in safety, free of threats from the Taliban” after losing his High Court fight for better protection.’

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Daily Telegraph, 9th May 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Thousands of court cases adjourned due to failures in interpreting services – The Guardian

Posted May 5th, 2016 in adjournment, contracting out, delay, interpreters, news by tracey

‘More than 2,600 court cases have been adjourned over the past five years because of failures in the interpreting service, according to figures released by the Ministry of Justice.’

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The Guardian, 4th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK court rejects Afghan interpreters’ discrimination claims – The Guardian

Posted July 9th, 2015 in appeals, armed forces, employment, interpreters, news, race discrimination by sally

‘Former local interpreters who risked their lives working for the British military in Afghanistan have lost their high court challenge to a government assistance scheme they say unlawfully discriminates against them.’

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The Guardian, 8th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Children: Private Law Update – Family Law Week

Posted September 22nd, 2014 in appeals, children, contact orders, EC law, evidence, expert witnesses, families, human rights, interpreters, jurisdiction, legal aid, legal representation, news, private hearings, sexual offences by sally

‘Alex Verdan QC of 4 Paper Buildings considers recent judgments in private law children cases, including the President’s judgment on legal aid funding in Q v Q.’

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Family Law Week, 19th September 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Capita: lost in translation? – New Law Journal

Posted May 29th, 2014 in courts, interpreters, judges, news, trials by michael

‘A top judge has slated the performance of Capita, the providers of the court interpreting service, after a hearing had to be adjourned when interpreters failed to turn up.’

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New Law Journal, 28th May 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Court interpreting firm Capita fined thousands – BBC News

Posted January 22nd, 2014 in courts, interpreters, news, penalties by sally

‘A private company which provides court interpreters in England and Wales has lost thousands of pounds in penalties for its poor performance.’

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BBC News, 22nd January 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Children: Public Law Update – Family Law Week

Posted October 29th, 2013 in adoption, appeals, care orders, children, expert witnesses, interpreters, media, news, witnesses by sally

“John Tughan, barrister, of 4 Paper Buildings reviews important recent cases of which all public law practitioners ought to be aware.”

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Family Law Week, 25th October 2013

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Driving test candidates must sit exam in English or Welsh – BBC News

Posted October 14th, 2013 in conspiracy, consultations, driving licences, examinations, fraud, interpreters, news by sally

“All driving test candidates will have to sit the written theory exam in either English or Welsh after a ban on foreign languages by the UK government.”

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BBC News, 11th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk