WEST Mercia Constabulary spent more than £230,000 on interpreters last year, it has been revealed.

Police say interpreters are used on a daily basis across the force area to enable officers to communicate effectively with victims, witnesses or anybody who has been arrested and who does not speak or understand English.

The most common languages represented at the moment are Polish, Russian and Romanian.

Despite spending a total of £238,666 between April 2006 and 2007, the force said it spent £40,029 less on interpreters compared with the previous year, and said it was important to use properly trained interpreters so no evidence or information could be lost or misconstrued.

West Mercia also said the force, which is a member of the National Register of Public Service Interpreters, had a legal requirement to use trained interpreters, especially during the questioning of suspects.

Supt Adrian Pass, who is responsible for the force's safety and justice department, said: "The force is committed to delivering a fair and equal service so no matter what a person's race, religion, faith, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability. West Mercia strives to ensure that they are treated fairly and justly and are not discriminated against."

He said that having interpreters on hand would become even more valuable in the future.

l Another Worcester News Freedom of Information probe is pending. In this case we have asked how much the Worcester Magistrates Court is spending on interpreters