The principle that during police interviews people who do not speak English should have access to interpreters has long been established in legal practice in the UK. However, very little is known about the extent to which or how this principle is actually applied. The aim of this study was to provide a close look at current legal interpreting practices in different types of legal encounter in the UK. What was actually going on in these events; what were the specific problems associated with interpreting in legal settings; and what were the problems associated with interpreting between Cantonese and English?