“Have a look in the police interviewroom ”

1. “Have a look in the police interviewroom” Police interviews with an interpreter The Antwerp-project Dirk Rombouts Trafut/Helsinki 14.06.2012

2. Belgian Newspaper 22.02.12 “””Chinese restaurant manager, Polish nurse or Russian trucker: today everyone can become a legal interpreter or legal translator.”

3. Overview questionnaire february 2012 • 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

4. Overview questionnaire february 2012 • 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

5. Overview questionnaire february 2012 • Use of the list (register) of legal interpreters: 16 % only use the digital list 18 % own list of interpreters 64 % both lists

6. Overview questionnaire february 2012 96 % of the officers almost always use the same interpreters

7. Overview questionnaire february 2012 Why officers prefer a specific interpreter (multiple answers) • 34 % interpreter’s legal knowledge • 59 % qualified (certified) interpreter • 50 % decide according “waiting time” • 17 % look at the interpreter’s knowledge/file • 90 % continuous availability of the interpreter

8. Overview questionnaire february 2012 17 % interpreter doesn’t mind working extra hours 40 % the basis of the interpreter’s sound knowledge of legal terminology

9. Overview questionnaire february 2012 Quality of the legal interpreters: 45 % : good 15 % : good to very well 23 % : very well 15 % : Variable (very well for an interview about robbery but bad for an interview about sex crime)

10. Overview questionnaire february 2012 Initial telephone conversation with the interpreter: only 29 % of the police officers give a summary/facts Summary/facts before the interview at the police station: 87 % : yes 13 % : no

11. Overview questionnaire february 2012 “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 %

12. Overview questionnaire february 2012 “Do you give a rough estimate of the duration of the interview during telephone call with interpreter ?” 62 % : yes 32 % : no 6 % : sometimes

13. Overview questionnaire february 2012 “ Is the interview planned according to the availability of the interpreter ?” 52 % : yes 20 % : no 28 % : sometimes First-line police can’t postpone an interview!!!

14. Overview questionnaire february 2012 • “Do you inform the interpreter about the interviewtechnique to be used ?” • 16 % : yes • 84 % : no

15. Overview questionnaire february 2012 “ 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

16. Overview questionnaire february 2012 “ 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

17. Overview questionnaire february 2012 • “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

18. Overview questionnaire february 2012 • “Do you feel hindered in your communication during an interview in the presence of an interpreter?” • 63 %: never • 34 %: sometimes • 3 % : always

19. Overview questionnaire february 2012 • “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

20. Overview questionnaire february 2012 • “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

21. Conclusions(aboutcommunication –contact – efficiency) • Interview with an interpreter is “different” and “laborious” • Police officers pay attention to : - making contact (is the fertilizer that makes an interview grow …) - the rhythm and tempo of the interview

22. Overview questionnaire february 2012 • “During interview – interpreter is threatened by the interviewee or interviewee makes certain promises to the interpreter. Reaction of the police officer?” • - record it in official police report • - prepare a new police report • - interrupt and stop the interview • - reprimand the interviewee • - contact the prosecutor/investigative judge

23. Overview questionnaire february 2012 • “ After the interview, does the interpreter sometimes give confidential information or additional information about the interview or the interviewee?” • 69 % : yes • 31 % : no

24. Overview questionnaire february 2012 • “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

25. Best practicesfor high standards interviews with a legalinterpreter • Interpreter: strictly define his/her task: • Neutral • Independent • Confidential • Everything will be translated • No personal conversations • Adress the police officer

26. Best practicesfor high standards interviews with a legalinterpreter • Interpreter: respect the silence observed by the interviewee after the police officer asked a question • Certain interview technique

27. Best practicesfor high standards interviews with a legalinterpreter After the interview: No additional information about the case/the person. A police officer who asks this kind of additional information oversteps his/her bounds.

28. Best practicesfor high standards interviews with a legalinterpreter TRANSLATE EVERYTHING !!!! • Obscene language • Personal threats • Promises • Sentences beginning with “ I don’t want you to translate this, because ….”

29. Best practicesfor high standards interviews with a legalinterpreter • Interpreters should know the specific terminology ( terms, actions and objects related to criminal offences)

30. Best practicesfor high standards interviews with a legalinterpreter • Legal interpreter who is threatened during an interview should STOP • He/she is victim of new facts (threats) = complaint

31. Best practicesfor high standards interviews with a legalinterpreter • Interpreter contacted by the police • Ask about the nature of the criminal fact • Interpreter decides

32. Best practicesfor high standards interviews with a legalinterpreter • Telephone taps • Strict rules • If there are doubts about certain words/sentences: guessing is not an option

33. Best practicesfor high standards interviews with a legalinterpreter • The legal interpreter is not: prison officer

34. Best practicesfor high standards interviews with a legalinterpreter • The legal interpreter is not: an investigator

35. Best practicesfor high standards interviews with a legalinterpreter • The legal interpreter is not: a secretary

36. Best practicesfor high standards interviews with a legalinterpreter • The legal interpreter is not: a cigarette dispenser

37. Best practicesfor high standards interviews with a legalinterpreter • Policeofficersshouldsteer the interview and control it. • Lead the interview • Determine the rhythm of the interview • Everyone talk in turn • Policeofficersshouldalways finish theirsentences • Refrainfromasking long questions

38. Thankyouverymuch !