Court interpreting problems in Scotland/Gerichtsdolmetschermangel in Schottland

The Scotsman reports on court interpreting problems in Scotland: some trials have collapsed because the untrained interpreter was incompetent, and with the influx of foreign nationals into Scotland the problem is increasing (it's presumably a magnified version of a problem that exists everywhere). Zuzana Kadurova, a Slovakian interpreter, said: "During a case at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, an accused from Poland asked me what I was doing as I was interpreting. He said that every other time he had been in court, the interpreter would simply be giving him a summary and chatting to him about life in Scotland while the case was unfolding." On another occasion, a Polish man told her how glad he was that a Slovakian was interpreting for her. "His previous Polish interpreters would tell him how he had brought shame on their country, and that they would interpret for him in such a way that he would get a bigger fine." During a swoop in Glasgow, only one out of ten interpreters involved was qualified. ... There have also been anecdotal stories of interpreters offering accused legal advice. (Via Taccuino di traduzione)