Courts and tribunals across England and Wales have begun operating under new language-service contracts intended to make interpretation more reliable and easier to scrutinise.
The arrangements took effect on Monday throughout HM Courts and Tribunals Service. Thebigword remains the first provider for spoken-language work, while Translate UK joins as an additional supplier. Separate contracts cover translation, transcription and services for Deaf and hard-of-hearing users.
Interpretation is not an administrative extra. A defendant who cannot follow a criminal hearing, a witness who cannot give evidence accurately, or a party who cannot understand a tribunal’s directions faces a direct obstacle to participation. Delays and failed bookings can also waste court time and, in criminal cases, affect whether detention and trial schedules remain lawful.
The new contracts introduce mandatory justice-system induction for interpreters, more detailed performance monitoring and a broader route for complaints and feedback. HMCTS said it would collect information from court users and legal professionals as well as from suppliers, with the aim of identifying recurring failures rather than treating each missed appointment as an isolated incident.
The dual-supplier model for spoken languages is meant to add capacity when the primary contractor cannot fill a booking. It will be tested most sharply in less commonly requested languages and at short notice, where availability has historically been difficult.
The change does not alter the legal tests governing when an interpreter must be provided. It changes the machinery through which that right is delivered. Courts will now have to show that the new oversight and backup arrangements translate into fewer adjournments, more consistent quality and a clearer remedy when communication breaks down.
Official Ministry of Justice announcement
