IT is a fundamental principle of our justice system that everyone who stands before a judge and jury must understand what is happening.
And if that means the public having to pay for a translator, then that is a cost that must be borne.
Indeed, it is a price which seems to be continually rocketing as the police have to dip ever deeper into their pockets to pay for translators who
make sure defendants understand every word which is said against them - and that the jury is able to comprehend what is said by the man or woman in the dock.
However, the way these costs have risen astronomically in the last couple of years throws a disconcerting light on the reality of criminal trends in the country today.
It is now beyond a shadow of doubt that an increasing number of foreign nationals are falling foul of the law. And this has become a worsening trend since the expansion of the EU, which threw open our border's doors to residents of parts of eastern Europe.
It is time the Government revisited its immigration policy and made sure that every new face turning up at our shores has the ability and determination to earn an honest living. We have enough criminals of our own without importing more.
Please listen to new message on beltsIT is more than 20 years since Jimmy Savile regularly appeared on our television screens urging the motoring public to 'Clunk, click. Every trip'.
His message about wearing a seat belt while driving has probably save many thousands of lives and prevented untold misery as the nation took the message to heart.
So it is surprising that there is still a hardcore of drivers and passengers who ignore this very basic advice and adamantly refuse to fasten their belts.
A new and graphically direct advertising campaign aims to reverse this trend. We urge every reader to take up this advice if not for their own sake, then for the peace of mind of those who may one day have to pick up the pieces if they fail to Clunk, click. Every trip.
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