Police interviews with an interpreter

The Antwerp-projectDirk Rombouts Trafut/Antwerp 19.10.2012

“””Chinese restaurant manager, Polish nurse or Russian trucker: today everyone can become a legal interpreter or legal translator.”

Criminal Investigation Department/ Antwerp Police (120 police officers)

Weekly needs the services of legal interpreters

80 police officers (drugs,sex crimes, armed robbery, fictitious marriages, youth crime,homicide) – questionnaire

Antwerp police: Total number of interviews conducted in 2011 (i.e. no traffic violations): 75.060 – 3.164 with a legal interpreter

763 legal interpreters

Use of the list (register) of legal interpreters:

16 % only use the digital list

18 % own list of interpreters

64 % both lists

96 % of the officers almost always use the same interpreters

Quality of the legal interpreters:

45 % : good15 % : good to very well23 % : very well15 % : Variable (very well for an interview

about robbery but bad for an interview about sex crime)

“Has an interpreter ever cancelled the interview for specific reasons ?”

20 %: yes

- Psychological reasons: 18 %- Emotional reasons: 18 %- Intercultural reasons: 18 %- Conflict of interests : 45 %- Without reason: 1 %

“ Is the interview planned according to the availability of the interpreter ?”

52 % : yes20 % : no28 % : sometimes

First-line police can’t postpone an interview!!!

“ Before the start of the interview, does the interpreter explain his/her task to the person to be interviewed?”

65 % : of the interpreters spontaneously inform the interviewee

32 % : said that he or she asks the interpreter to do this

3 % : replied that it was never done

“ Has an interpreter ever recognized the person to be interviewed upon entering the interview room and as a result cancelled the translation ?”

14 % : yes

86 % : never

“What do you think about the effort you have to make during an interview in the presence of an interpreter?”

3%:less than during normal interview (same language)

34%: same 63%: bigger

“What do you think about the contact with the person being interviewed in the presence of an interpreter?”

27%: same contact 69%: less contact 2%: more contact 2%: depends on the interpreter

“What do you think about the efficiency of an interview in the presence of an interpreter?”

41% : less efficient 49% : equally efficient 7% : more efficient 3% : variable

“Do interpreters denounce certain aspects of the legal system after the interview?”

24 % : yes

61 % of this 24 %: it was about the late payment of the interpreter’s fee

Why (always) the same interpreters ?

1)Immediately available2)Knowledge of the legal system3)Knowledge of the case4)Confidence

Quality of the legal interpreters during an interrogation:

from good ………….. very good: 83 %

Interview with an interpreter is “different” and “laborious”

63 % of the police force: not hindered

also 63 % of the police force: greater effort

Inform the interpreter of the case.

-26% by telephone contact-87% on the police office

Too seldom information about:

- Estimated duration : 62 %- Interrogation/questioning method: 16 %

1°) The description of the interpreter’s task.

2°) Translate everything.

3°) Simultaneous – consecutive – whispering.

4°) Interventions by the interpreter.

5°) Telephone tap interpreting.

1°) The description of the interpreter’s task.

2°) Translate everything.

3°) Simultaneous – consecutive – whispering.

4°) Interventions by the interpreter.

5°) Telephone tap interpreting.

Before the interview:

- neutral- independant- confidentiality- everything will be translated- no personal conversations- adress to the police officer

1°) The description of the interpreter’s task.

2°) Translate everything.

3°) Simultaneous – consecutive – whispering.

4°) Interventions by the interpreter.

5°) Telephone tap interpreting.

Translate everything (including obscene language, personal threats, promises made, sentences beginning with “I don’t want you to translate this, because ..”.

Keep strictly to the form of the questions ( open-ended closed-ended)

1°) The description of the interpreter’s task.

2°) Translate everything.

3°) Simultaneous – consecutive – whispering.

4°) Interventions by the interpreter.

5°) Telephone tap interpreting.

Interpreters should interpret consecutively during an interrogation.

Specific task for the police officer = conductor !

1°) The description of the interpreter’s task.

2°) Translate everything.

3°) Simultaneous – consecutive – whispering.

4°) Interventions by the interpreter.

5°) Telephone tap interpreting.

Question not understood/long complicate question.

Certain expressions.

The specific terminology of criminal groups ??

The interviewee gives a “long answer”.

Threatened (offers/suggestions).

1°) The description of the interpreter’s task.

2°) Translate everything.

3°) Simultaneous – consecutive – whispering.

4°) Interventions by the interpreter.

5°) Telephone tap interpreting.

- Some crucial conversations: translated a second time

- Guessing is not an option !!

1°) Prior announcements to the interpreter.

2°) At the beginning of an interrogation.

3°) During the interrogation.

4°) Following an interrogation.

1°) Prior announcements to the interpreter.

2°) At the beginning of an interrogation.

3°) During the interrogation.

4°) Following an interrogation.

- Short briefing regarding the case.

- Estimated time of the interrogation.

- Further inquiries ( house search).

- Short briefing type of questioning.

1°) Prior announcements to the interpreter.

2°) At the beginning of an interrogation.

3°) During the interrogation.

4°) Following an interrogation.

Allow the interpreter enough time to introduce him/herself = his/her task.

1°) Prior announcements to the interpreter.

2°) At the beginning of an interrogation.

3°) During the interrogation.

4°) Following an interrogation.

- Adress the person being questioned.

- Not too complicated questions (clear ending).

Immediate action after threats: record it in official police report, prepare a new police report,

interrupt and stop the interview

- Never leave the interpreter alone.

1°) Prior announcements to the interpreter.

2°) At the beginning of an interrogation.

3°) During the interrogation.

4°) Following an interrogation.

- The interpreter does not need to be debriefed.

- Interpreter’s duty ENDS once the questioning has finished.

The legal interpreter is not: prison officer

The legal interpreter is not: an investigator

The legal interpreter is not: a secretary

The legal interpreter may not be a member of a criminal organization.

Police officers should steer the interview and control it.

Lead the interview Determine the rhythm of the interview Everyone talk in turn

Police officers should always finish their sentences

Refrain from asking long questions