1. The Role of the Interpreter in the Legal System of Northern Ireland

2. POLICE Suspects; victims; witnesses Procedures Interviewing techniques Specialist areas

3. COURTS Magistrates’ Court Crown Court Family Youth

4. PRISONS Lawyer consultations Video links Parole Board

5. The Interpreter Skills: Knowledge: Ethics: Code of Conduct:

6. What is a police interview? A conversation ? A chat ? A question and answer game ? A search for the truth ? An attempt to obtain a confession ? A literal reproduction ?

7. Standard interviewing techniques Open-ended questions Closed-ended questions Multiple choice Leading questions Cognitive interview: avoid interrupting witness; allow for long pauses and silences

8. PITFALLS Failure to interpret everything Give a personal opinion to the police officer Changing the specific choice of words, eg “did you take something away?” to “did you steal something ?” Failure to follow the system of open-ended questions = change to close-ended questions

9. DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC ABUSE ‘Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, verbal, sexual, financial or emotional) inflicted on one person by another where they are or have been intimate partners or family members, irrespective of gender or sexual orientation.’

10. DOMESTIC ABUSE STATISTICS 1 April 07 – 31 Jan 08 1 April 08 – 31 Jan 09 Incident19,41419,309 Crime7,8397,462

11. DOMESTIC ABUSE Interpreter might be required to attend at the scene of an incident Form filling DASH 2009 RISK AND IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT MODEL FOR POLICE

13. Main Sexual Offences Art.5.Rape; Art.6.Assault by Penetration; Art.7.Sexual Assault (by touching); Art.8.Causing sexual activity

14. Some Changes Rape is redefined to include oral and anal penetration Consent is defined in the Order Age of consent is lowered to 16 New Offences eg Assault by Penetration, Abuse of Trust, Familial Offences, Carers, Kerb Crawling.

15. Medical examination room

16. S O B A unique initiative: “PSNI does not have officers available who are fluent in the languages most frequently required…….we have identified a number of interpreters and have provided familiarisation training to them alongside our Specialist Firearms Officers.”

17. The Court Interpreter Simultaneous interpreting - defendant Consecutive interpreting - the record Witness’ demeanour Translation - documents Ethics - fidelity; confidentiality; impartiality; professional conduct Quality - monitoring

18. Cellalone!

19. The dreaded night call