And how precision is key to it all
Disciplinary proceedings can be conducted on many different levels, from a one-to-one meeting with an HR department through to a formal hearings panel of a regulatory body. No matter the size of the meeting, it is vital that the hearing is conducted in manner that is fair and just. Proceedings can often be tense and highly emotional and the importance of having an accurate record of what was said and by whom cannot be under-estimated.
The transcripts are not only important in terms of recording what was said at the time, but are a vital record of events if a hearing progresses or is challenged. In the case of Gupta v General Medical Council [2002] 1 WLR 1691, the determination of a disciplinary tribunal was appealed. Lord Roger commented that: ‘…the fact that the practitioner can study a transcript of the hearing….assists the practitioner in understanding not only which witnesses’ evidence the committee accepted and which it rejected, but why it did so’.
In the more recent case of Clarke v General Optical Council [2017] EWHC 521 (Admin), Mr Justice Fraser reviewed the decision made by a previous Fitness to Practise Committee. The case highlighted the importance of having the Committee’s transcript: ‘They did however have the benefit of a Legal Adviser and I have the transcript of those proceedings before me.’ He was able to go onto say: ‘The Legal Adviser gave them careful and considered advice’.
Since 1990, at FSTL we have been producing transcripts of disciplinary meetings for a variety of corporate and regulatory bodies. We understand the importance of producing a precise transcript that accurately reflects what has taken place.
Our team of transcribers have the skills and experience our clients need to deliver exactly that, with each transcript being tailor-made to reflect exactly what happened so there aren’t any questions around accuracy. Having verbatim transcripts to hand means there is always a full and detailed account of what was said, all of which can come in useful for the future.