Britons arrested abroad will lose the right to a translator

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Telegraph

Britons arrested abroad will lose the right to a translator
Britons arrested in Europe will not have the right to demand a full translation of the charges they are facing, under proposals supported by the government.

By Bruno Waterfield in Brussels
Published: 8:00PM GMT 12 Mar 2010

Britain has backed plans to "dilute" the rights of its citizens when extradited or caught up in criminal proceedings in other European countries.

Justice campaigners say anyone facing criminal allegations abroad under a European Arrest Warrant will be hit by the plan.

The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe has accused Britain of pushing for procedures that do not provide proper protection for suspects.

The CCBE, which represents one million European lawyers, is concerned because the right to translation has been limited to only "essential" documents – a "formula which is too vague and open to abuse".



Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/7430120/Britons-arrested-abroad-will-lose-the-right-to-a-translator.html

[HeresyLives]

1. That doesn't make much sense.

English is one of the official languages of the EU.

[420inTN]

5. It's about the money.

They don't want to pony up for the cost of providing a translator in foreign courts.

And while English might be an official language of the EU government, that doesn't mean that everyone in the EU or the local courts speaks English.

[HeresyLives]

7. Translators don't cost much, and they are vital.

A Spaniard in England should have a translator as well. They have lots of official languages, so I'm sure they can manage it.

There is no justice if the person doesn't understand the language and the charges.

[420inTN]

8. Depends upon where the court is

There may not be a local translator available which means that the Government would have to hire one then provide transportation, room & board in addition to salary.

[HeresyLives]

9. Translation ability is available everywhere.

And this is pennies in comparison to their other expenses.

[420inTN]

10. You save where you can

And the EU has 27 member states with 23 official or working languages.

Most likely the UK gov't is seeing it as the responsibility of the defendants to provide for their own translators.

edit: Or it's the responsibility of the local court to provide translators (i'm not familiar with EU laws).

[HeresyLives]

11. LOL I don't think so.

The EU has plenty of money. I dunno what's behind this nonsense, but it isn't money.

And if the UK wants to save money, they have 14 overseas territories they can give up.

[Tempest]

2. I see the EU stepping in and stopping this nonsense

I believe this violates some provisions of the union's constitution.

[drm604]

3. Why would Britain do this?

Why do they want to reduce the rights of their citizens traveling abroad? What does Britain gain from this? :shrug:

[Moonwalk]

4. Okay. I'm Confused. Why would the British NOT want their subjects to have a translator?--

I mean, what is going on here? I'm a British subject. I go to Paris and don't speak French. I get arrested. Britain says I don't get a translator (is that about right)? But what does Britain have to do with whether the French give me a translator if I'm arrested (how is that the UK's decision?)? And why wouldn't the UK want me to have a translator in case I'm innocent and a translator will help prove that?

Am I reading this all wrong? :wtf:?

[alp227]

6. What does CCBE stand for? The org's real English acronym should be CBLSE

The closest match for CCBE I can find on the CCBE.EU website is the French name of the org, Conseil des barreaux européens. Oh well, I guess that should be close enough to CCBE.

Wow...no defendant rights...sounds like the Bush administration has been a bad influence even to European governments.

[Igel]

12. Conseil consultatif des Barreaux européens

Exactly why "consultatif" is dropped from the ccbe.org. website and most of the documents I don't know. Perhaps it was a name change but the acronym was too entrenched?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. What they have in the courts are INTERPRETERS, not translators

I'm a translator. I work exclusively with written materials. I can't interpret beyond a simple level because I have trouble
"changing channels" between English and Japanese.

Some people who work between two languages are both interpreters and translators. Some are one or the other. But they're not the same thing.

OK?

Here's the distinction:

Interpreter: Works with spoken language
Translator: Works with written language

For some reason, Japanese people have no trouble distinguishing interpreters (tsuuyaku) from translators (hon'yakka). English speakers tend to call everyone a "translator."

[vadawg]

14. no the courts have both, they are needed to interpret what the defendent is saying and what is being

and they also have to have all the papers translated, not sure why they are removing this provision, will be interesting to see how it goes down when the first scouser or manc gets busted in spain...

[Lydia Leftcoast]

15. Yes, they do have translators, but not in the way most people think

The person who tells the defendant what's going on in court and relays the lawyers' questions is an INTERPRETER.

(The movie of the same name got it right. Nicole Kidman's character is an interpreter.)