Police translation costs increase

Tayside Police saw the largest increase in costs

The amount spent by Scottish police forces on interpreters for foreign suspects and witnesses has increased by more than a third, it has emerged.

At least £256,000 was spent on translators during 2005-06, up 43% from £179,000 two years ago.

Tayside Police showed the biggest rise, with costs almost quadrupling from £12,785 to £44,491.

The increase came as EU expansion has increased the number of Eastern European immigrants to Scotland.

Strathclyde Police, Scotland's largest force, spent the most on translators during the last financial year, at just under £70,000.

POLICE FORCE INTERPRETER COSTS 2005-06 Strathclyde Police - £70,000 Lothian and Borders Police - £62,847 Tayside Police - £44,491 Grampian Police - £37,695 Central Scotland Police - £17,929 Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary - £14,000 Northern Constabulary - £9,439 Fife Constabulary - unable to provide figures

Although Strathclyde's costs dropped year-on-year, down from £74,000 in 2004-05 and £85,325 the year before, the number of translation uses increased to 1,481 in 2005-06, compared to 864 occasions two years ago.

Police forces have a legal duty to provide interpreters when foreign nationals who cannot speak English are arrested and charged, need to provide a witness statement or have to take part in identity parades.

The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, also showed that Grampian's costs increased nearly three-fold from £13,500 in 2003-04 to £37,695 for 2005-06.

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) said that providing translators was an "absolute necessity" for the police.

"If someone doesn't speak English and they are accused it is vital for the rule of law to find out what they are saying," a spokesman said.

Official figures this year revealed for the first time the influx of migrants from Eastern Europe, with an estimated 32,000 coming to Scotland since the EU expanded in 2004.

They were among a total of more than half a million Eastern European migrants who came to Britain during that time.