£500k bill for translations

LOTHIAN and Borders Police have spent more than half a million pounds on translation fees in the past three years new figures show.

In the last three years Scottish forces have paid translators £2.1 million for face-to-face interpreting, phone interpreting and translating written materials. Strathclyde Police spent the most with £675,284, closely followed by the local force with a £519,694 bill. UK-wide the bill was £82 million.

Deputy Chief Constable Steve Allen, of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland said: “We use translation services to ensure victims and witnesses can report matters in the language they find easiest to use.”