This book is written for all those people who come into contact with interpreting- for both non-English speakers and deaf people- across the legal system. We thus hope that it will be of interest to a wide range of people: judges, magistrates, lawyers, justices' clerks and court legal advisors, police officers, probation officers, prison officers, Customs and Excise officers, immigration officers and immigration appeal adjudicators, as well as administrators and managers who work alongside all these decision-makers. Last, but certainly not least, it is for interpreters, both professional and occasional. One of our aims when writing the book was to encourage awareness of the complex issues bound up with the process of interpreting within the legal system, thereby contributing to the debate- slowly developing as the new millennium approaches- about the implications of interpreting for the proper administration ofjustice. Key areas of the legal system are presented and discussed together with related interpreting issues. Items covered include procedures for entry to the United Kingdom, police investigative procedures, the work of the courts and the probation service. This approach enables linguists and non-linguists alike to understand how closely the performance of their own role depends on the practices, professionalism and attitudes of their opposite numbers. As we seek to demonstrate, where non-English speakers come into contact with the law, the interpreter- who has traditionally been seen as a mere 'mechanical adjunct'- is a vital member ofthe 'team' which administers justice. Competent interpreting makes a major contribution to efficient and effective legal processes. Conversely, incompetent interpreting enhances the risk of a miscarriage ofjustice. We hope that everyone who reads this book will gain a greater understanding of this inescapable link between the quality of interpreting and the quality ofjustice. It would be quite impossible to list all the people who have helped us by providing information, advice and support. To all of these, our thanks. A particular debt of gratitude is owed to Ellen Moerman, who has unstintingly provided invaluable insights derived from her vast experience as an interpreter and researcher. David Chandler, clerk to the Bradford justices, also deserves special mention for his exceptional support- and for bringing the two of us together
