Police defend £1m translator bill

Police say translation is an integral part of policing

Thames Valley Police spent over £1m on interpretation and translation over the past year, it has been revealed.

The Conservatives uncovered the figures which show the cost of providing such services has risen by 127% since 2004.

Shadow minister for police reform David Ruffley said the findings suggested "we are importing more foreign criminals" and spending less on frontline police.

But Thames Valley Police said the services were an "integral part of policing" a diverse community.

Interpretation and translation costs are not an optional extra Thames Valley Police

Thames Valley Police had the third highest bill for interpretation and translation services in Britain, after the Metropolitan and West Midlands forces.

A Thames Valley Police spokeswoman said: "Many members of our community speak a wide variety of languages and we have a duty to serve them all.

"Interpretation and translation costs are not an optional extra but an integral part of policing our communities.

"These costs are for face-to-face and telephone interpretations for both victims and offenders."

Mr Ruffley said: "These figures suggest we are importing more foreign criminals and consequently spending already stretched police budgets on translations, rather than on more frontline policing of our streets."

The Tories obtained the figures through a Freedom of Information request, to which 43 of the 51 police forces responded fully.

The money was spent during the 2007-08 financial year.