answer text |
<p>All asylum interviews are carried out by an impartial interviewing officer. All
interpreters engaged by the Home Office must demonstrate they have the required skills
and qualifications. They are also bound by a “Code of Conduct” to ensure minimum standards
for interpreting and behaviour.</p><p>Home Office policy and guidance ensures that
in the event of interpreters or interviews falling short of those standards, it would
not adversely affect an individual’s asylum claim. Interviewing Officers are encouraged
to provide feedback on the performance of interpreters, using specifically designed
monitoring forms. Interviews may also be monitored for training and security purposes.</p><p>Increased
use of technologies, such as interviewing by video conferencing facilities, are being
trialled to increase efficiency and transform the asylum process. Currently the majority
of interviews are conducted face to face.</p><p>We have recently introduced digital
interviewing capability across the asylum casework operational as part of the wider
Home Office digital transformation programme, which aims for the department to become
‘digital by default’. We are aiming to digitally record all asylum interviews and
provide claimants and their legal representative with a digital recording of their
interview in addition to a written transcript. Claimants who do not want their interview
to be audio recorded and provide reasonable explanation for this will be exempt from
the recording requirement.</p>
|
|