Lords Public Services Committee holds first evidence session of Police Transcription inquiry

Tomorrow, on Wednesday 3 September, the House of Lords Public Services Committee will hold its first evidence session of a short inquiry into Police Transcription. The session will aim to provide the Committee with a broad understanding of how police transcription interviews and forensic audio work and identify any key potential operational issues and how these might be addressed.

The session will start at 11:00am and can be watched live or on demand at Parliament TV or attend in person in Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster.

Giving evidence will be:

• Dr Kate Haworth, Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics, Aston University;

• Dr James Tompkinson, Lecturer in Sociolinguistics, University of York; and
• Professor Helen Fraser, Director, Research Hub for Language in Forensic Evidence, University of Melbourne.

Questions will include:

• How important are transcripts of police interviews with suspects, or transcripts of forensic audio, in the justice system? How are transcripts currently used by police and in court?

• How far do transcripts effectively reflect interviews or forensic audio?

• What guidance, standards, training or support is in place for transcribers across different police forces?

• How far does the use of AI transcription tools present an opportunity for addressing problems in police transcription, both now and in the future?