Australian Capital Territory Numbered Acts

CRIMES (AMENDMENT) ACT (NO. 2) 1991 (NO. 78 OF 1991) - SECT 7

7. After section 353A of the Crimes Act the following section is inserted:

“354. (1) If a police officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a person in custody does not have a knowledge of the English language that is sufficient to enable the person to understand questions put to him or her by the officer, the officer shall ensure that at all times while questioning is in progess an interpreter is present to assist the person.

“(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to questioning in connection with an offence against Part III of the Motor Traffic (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1977 .

“(3) In subsection (1)—

‘interpreter' means—

        (a)     an interpreter accredited with the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Limited; or

        (b)     any other competent interpreter.”.