Court interpreter service 'wastes thousands'

Thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money is being wasted every day due to problems caused by a new system for providing court interpreters, it was claimed yesterday.

It was hoped a new contract, awarded to Applied Language Solutions, would save millions, but campaign group Interpreters for justice says the company is offering a sub-standard service and many interpreters refuse to work for it. As a result, it is actually costing more, the group says.