Fifty-nine police officers are set to receive a hefty payout after a High Court judge ruled in their favour, ordering the Commissioner of Police to compensate them for salary differences owed since their absorption into the police service (TTPS).

Justice Joan Charles made the order on March 21, at the end of a protracted legal battle over outstanding payments dating back to 2005-2007. The officers, formerly Special Reserve Police (SRP) drivers, argued that they had been working full-time since their enlistment but were not adequately compensated.

The dispute arose when the officers were formally absorbed into police service in 2009, with confirmation issued via a Departmental Order on September 9, 2010. The officers later learned that a Cabinet Note had allocated $10,983,600 for their retroactive salaries. This decision was based on a directive from the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO), outlining how SRPs should be paid.