WORKING WITH INTERPRETERS

摘要

Increased migration, travel, a multicultural society, and an increased focus on equality of access to justice for all mean that there is an ongoing need for police interviewers to be competent in working with interpreters. Some of the pitfalls of failing to work with an interpreter when one is needed have been highlighted and it is acknowledged that several Australian policing jurisdictions have updated their procedural manuals to reflect current best practices in working with interpreters in interpreter-assisted interviews. Importantly, this is a task that must be undertaken periodically, as new research findings come to light. For police interviewers, proactive ways to continue to improve skills in interpreter-assisted interviews include adhering to the guidance offered in police manuals, seeking advice from specialist interview advisors (in jurisdictions where they are available), and engaging in training opportunities. Doing so improves access to justice and is more likely to result in high-quality information from investigative interviews, providing valuable investigative leads and crucial evidence in court.