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National Register of Public Service Interpreters


NRPSI is the UK’s independent voluntary regulator of professional interpreters specialising in public service. We maintain a public register of professional, qualified and accountable interpreters. The National Register is free of charge to access and searchable online.

The need for defendants in court to be able to understand the proceedings, using an interpreter if necessary, was identified in the landmark R v Iqbal Begum Court of Appeal ruling which stated:

‘It is beyond the understanding of this court that it did not occur to someone that the reason for her [the defendant's] silence....... was simply because she was not being spoken to in a language which she understood.’

As a result, the 1993 Runciman Royal Commission on Criminal Justice recommended that a national register of qualified interpreters should be established with the aim of ‘using only interpreters with proven competence and skills, who are governed by a nationally recognised code of conduct’. NRPSI was established in 1994.

Every interpreter on our Register has met the standards that we set for education, training and practice in public service. All Registrants are subject to the NRPSI Code of Professional Conduct and we investigate allegations of professional misconduct.

Even today, parts of the public services are unaware of the need to use qualified interpreters. From the Serious Case Review following the death of Daniel Pelka, aged 5, in September 2013:

‘Without proactive or consistent action by any professional to engage with him via an interpreter, then his lack of language and low confidence would likely have made it almost impossible for him to reveal the abuse he was suffering at home.’

Using the National Register to find an interpreter ensures that you not only employ a qualified professional practitioner but that the interpreter can be held accountable should their conduct or competence fall below the high standards expected of a Registered Public Service Interpreter (RPSI).

There are around 1,700 interpreters in 100 languages on the National Register covering the whole of the UK. It is a dynamic database, with Registrants' details constantly being updated and new Registrants added.

NRPSI News

A further withdrawal of services in the courts on 28th and 29th October 2024 has been announced; click here to read more

The organising group has said: “On these dates, we will not accept any bookings through the TBW” . . .
Published:14 October 2024
Topic: General News
Read More »

Click here to read a letter from Robin Humphrey to his MP lobbying for insourcing of language services in the Ministry of Justice . . .

Add your voice if you are concerned about continued outsourcing of interpreting and translation in the courts . . .
Published:14 October 2024
Topic: General News
Read More »

Click here to read the letter sent by Phil Muriel to his local newspaper, which he also amended to send to the local radio stations . . .

If we all do this, we will get much more coverage of the need for a public discussion regarding insourcing of language services in the courts; copy and send to support the case for insourcing . . .
Published:11 October 2024
Topic: General News
Read More »

Click here to see a recent letter from a Registrant to the Ministry of Justice. Agree with it? Then write to both the Ministry and your MP today . . .

Now is the time to share what you know about public service interpreting in the courts . . .
Published:4 October 2024
Topic: General News
Read More »

Have this question asked in the House of Commons; Why has there been no discussion with relevant professional stakeholder organisations . . .

You can download and use the template letter/email on the next page to ask your MP to challenge the Ministry of Justice’s decision to continue to outsource its language services . . .
Published:27 September 2024
Topic: General News
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Click here for the new email address for thebigword invoicing

Vital you take note of this for future invoicing for engagements through tbw for the Ministry of Justice . . .
Published:17 September 2024
Topic: General News
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As you know the House of Lords Public Services Committee has launched a short inquiry into Interpreting and Translation Services in the Courts. See . . .

As part of this inquiry, the Committee is inviting relevant stakeholders to submit written evidence on the subject; have you sent your thoughts to NRPSI? . . .
Published:17 September 2024
Topic: General News
Read More »

Announcement of strike action by the WhatsApp Group of Court Interpreters; click here for more

“We would like to announce our withdrawal of services as court interpreters through The Big Word (TBW) for the week 23rd-27th September 2024” . . .
Published:17 September 2024
Topic: General News
Read More »
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