Ministry of Justice officials were warned two years ago that a central contract for courtroom interpreter services would lead to wrongful detentions, the Gazette has learned. Emails from a body representing interpreters also warned in 2010 that members would boycott the scheme.

The MoJ and its contractor Applied Language Solutions (ALS) have faced a barrage of criticism since the new hub arrangement began on 1 February, with reports of trials and immigration hearings postponed because no one was available to interpret.

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