Sectors We Serve

Interpreting for police and public safety

Vetted interpreters for custody, interviews and victim support, with 24/7 cover and deep coverage of rare languages.

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In policing, an interpreter is part of the evidence chain. A custody interview, a witness account, a victim's first statement: each one has to be interpreted accurately and impartially, often at three in the morning, often in a language few agencies can supply. Prism Linguistics provides vetted interpreters to UK police forces and public safety bodies, in more than 300 languages.

We are used to the pace and the seriousness of this work. Our interpreters are DBS-checked and vetted, many are Met Police Approved, and our telephone service runs every hour of every day.

Accuracy that has to hold up

When an interview is conducted under caution, what the interpreter says becomes part of the record. There is no room for paraphrase, no room for an interpreter who adds, softens or guesses. Our police interpreters interpret precisely what is said, stay strictly neutral, and understand that their job is to be an exact conduit, nothing more.

They are also vetted for it. Interpreters used for police assignments are DBS-checked, many hold Met Police Approved status, and we will never assign an interpreter who has any link to the people involved. Every interpreter is bound by a non-disclosure agreement.

The rare-language network

Serious crime, trafficking and asylum work often turn on languages most agencies cannot reach. We have spent years building a network of interpreters in rare African and Asian languages, Herero, Dinka, Nuer, Susu, Tigrinya and many more, and it is one of the main reasons forces come to us.

How we help

Services for police forces

Custody and interviews

Vetted interpreters for custody suites and interviews under caution, accurate and impartial.

24/7 telephone interpreting

Immediate interpreting for first contact, control rooms and incidents, at any hour.

Witness and victim support

Sensitive interpreting for witness statements and victims of crime, by experienced interpreters.

Transcription of recordings

Verbatim transcription of interviews and intercept material, in English or translated.

Document translation

Translation of evidence, statements and foreign-language documents for case files.

Rare-language coverage

Interpreters in rare African and Asian languages most agencies cannot source.
Questions people ask

Police sector FAQs

Are your interpreters vetted for police work?
Yes. Interpreters used for police assignments are vetted and DBS-checked, and many are Met Police Approved. They are experienced in custody and interview settings and understand the need for accuracy and impartiality when an interview is held under caution.
Can you provide an interpreter at short notice, day or night?
Yes. Policing does not stop, so neither do we. Telephone interpreting is available 24 hours a day, and for custody and interview work we can usually arrange a face-to-face interpreter quickly, including overnight and at weekends.
Do you cover rare languages and dialects?
Yes, and this is one of our strengths. We hold a deep network of interpreters in rare African and Asian languages, the kind that come up in trafficking, asylum and serious crime work and that many agencies simply cannot source.
How do you handle impartiality and confidentiality?
Our interpreters stay strictly neutral: they interpret what is said, accurately and completely, and nothing more. Every interpreter is bound by a non-disclosure agreement, and we will not assign an interpreter who has any connection to those involved.

Need an interpreter for an investigation?

Tell us the language and the setting. We will arrange a vetted interpreter, day or night, and tell you straight what we can do.

Get a quote Call +44 (0) 20 3880 6688