Police Interpreter Services UK-wide
What is a police interpreter? A police interpreter is a qualified, vetted linguist who enables communication between police officers and suspects, witnesses or victims who do not speak English. Unlike general interpreting, police interpreting requires specific training in PACE Code C procedures, statement-taking, and the legal framework governing criminal investigations. We provide police interpreter services across the UK — NRPSI-registered, DPI/DPSI qualified, and NPPV3 vetted — for custody suites, interview rooms, and court.
Request a Police Interpreter
Urgent cover available 24/7.
Key Facts About Our Police Interpreter Services
- Qualifications: CIOL Level 6 Diploma in Police Interpreting (DPI) or Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI) Law option; NRPSI registration preferred under the National Agreement
- Vetting: NPPV3 (Non-Police Personnel Vetting level 3) as minimum; CTC-cleared linguists available for counter-terrorism and sensitive assignments
- Assignment types: Custody interviews, suspect interviews, witness statements, victim interviews, ID parades, cell visits, legal consultations, court and tribunal
- Turnaround: Face-to-face attendance typically within 2–4 hours in major cities; telephone and video interpreting available 24/7 for immediate cover
- UK coverage: All police force areas — London, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, Northumbria, Police Scotland, PSNI and more
- Pricing: Face-to-face from £50 per hour (minimum call-out periods apply); telephone from £1.50/minute; video remote from £40/hour; unsocial hours and weekends at higher rates
Police Interpreting Assignment Types We Cover
Police interpreting is not a single service — it covers a range of assignment types, each with its own protocols and expectations. Whether you need an interpreter for a custody interview under PACE Code C, a witness statement that will stand up in court, a suspect interview requiring simultaneous or consecutive mode, or telephone interpreting for an urgent custody query, our NPPV3-vetted linguists cover it. Each assignment type below is available face-to-face, by telephone, and by video remote, with the same vetting, qualification and quality standards.
Custody Interviews & Suspect Questioning
Consecutive two-way interpreting for PACE Code C interviews in custody suites. Interpreters render questions and answers faithfully, with no additions or omissions, and understand the right to silence, caution wording, and the role of the appropriate adult. Available 24/7 for urgent call-outs.
Witness Statements & Victim Interviews
Interpreting for witness statement-taking and victim interviews, including video-recorded interviews (ABE). Interpreters manage the flow of communication, avoid taking over the interaction, and render meaning accurately so the statement can be used as evidence. Sensitive handling for vulnerable witnesses.
Court, Tribunal & CPS Assignments
Interpreting for magistrates’ courts, Crown Courts, tribunals and CPS case conferences. Interpreters work in consecutive and simultaneous modes as required, and understand the protocols of sworn evidence, cross-examination and legal submissions.
Telephone & Video Remote Interpreting
Telephone interpreting (OPI) and video remote interpreting (VRI) for immediate cover when a face-to-face interpreter cannot reach the custody suite in time. Available 24/7, including bank holidays. Ideal for initial custody bookings, cell checks, and non-evidential communication.
Police Interpreting Services for UK Criminal Justice
Tap any service to read full details. Every assignment is matched to an interpreter with the right qualification, vetting and subject-matter experience.
Custody Suite & Suspect Interviews
Consecutive two-way interpreting for PACE Code C interviews, including suspect questioning, caution wording, and the right to silence. Interpreters are NPPV3 vetted and understand the legal framework governing custody.
- PACE Code C 2019 compliance
- Appropriate adult liaison
- 24/7 urgent call-out
- No additions, no omissions protocol
Witness & Victim Interviews
Interpreting for witness statement-taking, victim interviews and Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) video-recorded interviews. Sensitive handling for vulnerable witnesses and victims of crime.
- ABE interview protocols
- Victim sensitivity training
- Statement translation & certification
- Video-recorded interview support
Court, Tribunal & CPS
Interpreting for magistrates’ courts, Crown Courts, tribunals and CPS case conferences. Consecutive and simultaneous modes as required, including sworn evidence and cross-examination.
- Magistrates’ & Crown Court
- Tribunal & appeals
- Sworn evidence interpreting
- CPS case conferences
Telephone & Video Remote
Telephone interpreting (OPI) and video remote interpreting (VRI) for immediate cover when a face-to-face interpreter cannot attend in time. Available 24/7, including bank holidays.
- Immediate connection within minutes
- 24/7 including bank holidays
- Secure, confidential lines
- Initial custody bookings & cell checks
Sensitive & CTC-Cleared Assignments
Counter-terrorism, organised crime, and other sensitive assignments requiring CTC (Counter Terrorism Check) clearance or enhanced vetting beyond NPPV3. Interpreters briefed on security protocols and information handling.
- CTC-cleared linguists
- Counter-terrorism experience
- Enhanced information handling
- Organised crime & serious fraud
Youth, Community & Restorative Justice
Interpreting for youth offending teams, community resolution panels, restorative justice conferences, and multi-agency safeguarding meetings. Interpreters experienced with vulnerable young people and family liaison.
- Youth offending team liaison
- Restorative justice conferences
- Safeguarding meetings
- Family liaison support
Google Reviews
See what our clients say about our police interpreter services on Google.
“We needed a Dari interpreter for a custody interview at short notice. The interpreter arrived within two hours, was NPPV3 vetted, and handled the PACE Code C procedure professionally. Exactly what we needed.”
“We use their telephone interpreting service regularly for initial custody bookings across multiple force areas. Always answered within minutes, always professional, and the interpreters understand the custody environment.”
“Excellent Farsi interpreter for a Crown Court trial. Consecutive and simultaneous work was flawless, and the interpreter understood the importance of faithful rendition for the evidence. Highly recommended.”
Why UK Police Forces & Criminal Justice Partners Choose Our Interpreters
For high-stakes police interpreting, qualifications and vetting matter. Tap any reason for details.
Every interpreter is NRPSI-registered or holds CIOL DPI/DPSI. All are NPPV3 vetted. CTC-cleared linguists available for sensitive assignments. Coverage across all UK force areas.
- Under the National Agreement on Arrangements for the Use of Interpreters and Translators in the Criminal Justice System, police forces should draw interpreters from the NRPSI wherever possible. Our interpreters are NRPSI-registered and hold the CIOL Level 6 Diploma in Police Interpreting (DPI) or DPSI Law option.
- All interpreters working for UK police forces must hold NPPV3 as a minimum. We also supply CTC-cleared linguists for counter-terrorism, organised crime and other sensitive assignments. Vetting is transferable between forces and suppliers.
- Our interpreters understand the role of the interpreter at the police station under PACE Code C 2019, the caution wording, the right to silence, and the protocols for statement-taking and interview. They work strictly within the interpreter’s role — no additions, no omissions.
- Custody suites operate around the clock. We provide 24/7 telephone and video interpreting for immediate cover, and face-to-face attendance typically within 2–4 hours in major cities. Unsocial hours, weekends and bank holidays are covered.
- Police interpreters must be impartial — they interpret for both sides equally and do not advocate for either party. Our interpreters adhere to the NRPSI Code of Professional Conduct and understand the importance of avoiding any perception of bias.
- All UK police force areas — London, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, Northumbria, Police Scotland, PSNI and more. Published rates with no hidden fees. Minimum call-out periods and cancellation terms explained upfront.
How Much Do Police Interpreter Services Cost in the UK?
Every quote is itemised and confirmed before booking. Minimum call-out periods, cancellation terms and unsocial hours rates explained upfront.
Face-to-Face Interpreting
On-site police interpreting for custody interviews, witness statements, suspect questioning and court. NRPSI-registered, DPI/DPSI qualified, NPPV3 vetted.
- Minimum 2-hour call-out
- 24-hour cancellation notice
- Unsocial hours rates apply
- Mileage charged separately
Telephone Interpreting (OPI)
Immediate telephone interpreting for initial custody bookings, cell checks and non-evidential communication. Available 24/7 including bank holidays.
- Connection within minutes
- 24/7 including bank holidays
- Secure, confidential lines
- No minimum call-out
Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)
Video remote interpreting for situations where face-to-face attendance is not possible or not yet arranged. Available 24/7 across all UK force areas.
- Secure video platform
- 24/7 availability
- Ideal for remote custody suites
- No travel time or mileage
Minimum call-out periods and cancellation terms apply to face-to-face assignments. Unsocial hours (before 8am, after 6pm), weekends and bank holidays are charged at higher rates. Mileage is charged separately for face-to-face assignments outside the interpreter’s home force area. All quotes are itemised and confirmed before work begins.
Frequently Asked Questions About Police Interpreter Services in the UK
Police interpreters should hold the CIOL Level 6 Diploma in Police Interpreting (DPI) or the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI) Law option, and be registered on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). Under PACE Code C 2019 and the National Agreement on Arrangements for the Use of Interpreters, police forces should draw interpreters from the NRPSI wherever possible. Our interpreters meet these standards.
All police interpreters working for UK police forces must hold NPPV3 (Non-Police Personnel Vetting level 3) as a minimum. Some roles also require CTC (Counter Terrorism Check) clearance. NPPV3 vetting is transferable between police forces and suppliers. Our interpreters are NPPV3 vetted, and we can supply CTC-cleared linguists for sensitive assignments.
Face-to-face police interpreting starts from £50 per hour, with minimum call-out periods typically of 2 hours and 24-hour cancellation notice. Telephone interpreting starts from £1.50 per minute; video remote from £40 per hour. Unsocial hours, weekends and bank holidays are charged at higher rates. Mileage is charged separately for face-to-face assignments. All quotes are itemised.
PACE Code C 2019 governs the detention, treatment and questioning of suspects by police officers. Section 13.2 requires that a suspect must not be interviewed unless arrangements are made for an interpreter to be present where needed. The interpreter’s role at the police station is to enable accurate two-way communication for interviews and statement-taking, acting impartially and rendering meaning faithfully with no additions or omissions. Our interpreters are fully briefed on PACE Code C requirements.
Yes. We provide interpreters for witness statement-taking, victim interviews and Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) video-recorded interviews. Our interpreters are experienced with vulnerable witnesses and victims, and understand the protocols for statement translation and certification. Sensitive handling is standard.
Yes. We provide police interpreters across all UK police force areas including London, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, Northumbria, Police Scotland and Police Service of Northern Ireland. Face-to-face interpreters travel to custody suites, police stations and interview rooms; telephone and video interpreting are available 24/7 for urgent cover.
We cover 300+ languages through our interpreter network, with particularly strong coverage in the languages most frequently required by UK police forces: Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish (Sorani and Kurmanji), Pashto, Polish, Romanian, Urdu, Albanian, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), and many more. If you need a specific language, contact us and we will confirm availability.
Book Police Interpreter Services in the UK
Whether you need a face-to-face interpreter for a custody interview, telephone cover for an urgent booking, a DPI-qualified linguist for a Crown Court trial, or a CTC-cleared interpreter for a sensitive assignment, we’ll match you with the right person — briefed, vetted and ready.
We work with UK police forces, the Crown Prosecution Service, criminal defence solicitors, youth offending teams and multi-agency safeguarding partners. 24/7 urgent cover available.
Send us the force area, language, and deadline. Quote and interpreter availability confirmed within 30 minutes.
Office 17690, 182-184 High Street North, East Ham, London E6 2JA · UK-wide cover
Request a Police Interpreter
Response within 30 minutes. Urgent cover available 24/7.