Interviews, statements and cautions
In a police interview every word is potentially evidential. Rights and cautions must be interpreted fully rather than paraphrased, and the interviewee's answers must reach the officer exactly as given. I interpret in the first person, do not summarise, and do not resolve contradictions on the speaker's behalf. If an answer is evasive or unclear, the officer hears it that way and can follow it up.
I also make sure the person understands the procedural frame they are in: that a statement is being recorded, what a caution means, what they are being asked to sign. I do not explain these things myself — I interpret the officer's explanation and flag when it does not appear to have landed, so the officer can restate it.
Settings I cover
I work with police stations, investigating officers, legal representatives and NGOs supporting people in contact with law enforcement across Malta.
Police interviews and statements
Witness statements, suspect interviews, complaint reports, identification procedures and follow-up questioning.
Custody and detention services
Custody procedures, welfare checks, legal visits and interpreting for people held in detention settings.
Victims and vulnerable witnesses
Reports of violence, exploitation, trafficking indicators and domestic abuse, interpreted with trauma-informed care and without pressure on the speaker.
Neutrality in law enforcement settings
People being interviewed by police often assume the interpreter is part of the investigating team, or alternatively that the interpreter is there to help them. Neither is true, and I make that clear at the outset: I interpret everything said by everyone in the room, in both directions, and I take no side. I do not advise the interviewee, I do not answer for them, and I do not offer opinions to officers.
Confidentiality is absolute, and conflicts of interest are disclosed before an assignment starts. If I recognise the person, or have interpreted for a related party, I say so immediately.
Cultural context that affects interviews
Somali and Arabic-speaking interviewees may come from contexts where police contact carried real danger, where questioning was coercive, or where naming another person had severe consequences. Silence, deference or apparent inconsistency may reflect fear or a different narrative convention rather than deception.
Where such a dynamic is clearly affecting the interview, I note it briefly and neutrally so the officer can adapt their approach. I do not interpret behaviour on the person's behalf or make claims about their credibility — that assessment belongs to the investigator.
Short-notice availability
Police assignments rarely come with notice. WhatsApp is the fastest way to reach me and urgent requests are prioritised; remote interpreting by phone can bridge the gap where attendance in person is not immediately possible.
Frequently asked questions
Can you interpret for police interviews in Malta?
Yes. I interpret for police interviews, statements, custody procedures and detention settings in Somali, Arabic and English.
Are you available at short notice?
Urgent police requests are prioritised. Message me on WhatsApp and I will confirm availability quickly, including remote support if attendance is not immediately possible.
Do you interpret for victims and witnesses as well as suspects?
Yes, for all parties. I interpret impartially and use trauma-informed practice when working with victims and vulnerable witnesses.
Will you explain the process to the interviewee?
No. I interpret the officer's explanation faithfully and flag if it does not appear to be understood, so the officer can restate it.
Book an interpreter in Malta
Tell me the setting, the language pair, the date and the location anywhere in Malta. Most requests are answered the same day, and urgent attendance is often possible.