A SUPREME Court ruling could pave the way for hundreds of millions of pounds’ worth of pay claims.

A landmark decision today found that police can claim for a “series” of unlawful wage deductions dating back to 1998.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had argued that officers cannot make an employment tribunal claim when there are gaps of more than three months between each period of wage deduction.

Judges unanimously rejected this in a ruling Unison said could leave many workers across Britain entitled to be reimbursed huge sums unfairly taken from their pay.

An original industrial tribunal ruled in 2018 in favour of a group representing more than 3,700 PSNI officers and civilian staff that they were owed money for a shortfall in holiday pay dating back 20 years.

The Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland upheld that ruling in 2019.

PSNI could face compensation claims upward of £100 million due to the ruling, the Morning Star understands.

The force had accepted that it had wrongly paid officers and staff basic pay during annual leave, when they were actually entitled to their regular pay including an element for overtime, but disagreed on how far back compensation for their deducted wage claims could be made.

Unison legal head Shantha David said: “The previous interpretation meant that workers couldn’t get compensation where a series of similar underpayments had happened three or more months apart.

“The Supreme Court understood that this could allow some employers to game the system by spacing out holiday payments over more than three months.

“For years, many workers have been denied unfairly the chance to have their legitimate claims heard.

“This judgement ensures they will get all the wages they’re rightfully owed.”

PSNI assistant chief officer for corporate services Mark McNaughten said: “The service acknowledges today’s important judgement and welcomes the clarity it brings to some complex legal issues.

“We will now take time to study today’s judgement in detail, consider the implications and how the costs will be met.”

Jon Boutcher has meanwhile been picked as PSNI interim chief constable, subject to agreement, it was reported today.

His predecessor Simon Byrne quit in September after a court ruled that two junior police officers were unlawfully disciplined over an arrest at a Troubles commemoration event and a data breach that revealed the identities of its entire workforce online.