THE PSNI has said it is "considering the findings" of an industrial tribunal on holiday pay entitlements which could be worth up to £30 million.
A class action was brought against the PSNI and Police Authority by a group representing more than 3,700 officers and staff.
The judge said staff were owed money because holiday pay calculations had been based on basic working hours rather than actual hours worked including overtime.
Judge Noel Kelly said the pay issue was "extremely serious" and breached European law.
The industrial tribunal decision could result in the two bodies facing an estimated £30m bill for unlawful deductions dating back two decades.
The case was brought by a group of 14 lead claimants – 11 police officers and three civilian staff members.
Solicitor John McShane, from McCartan Turkington Breen, represented 11 of the claimants.
"The issue in question was whether these groups should have their overtime and other allowances included in the calculation of their normal pay, in order to work out their holiday pay entitlements," he said.
"Up until now, holiday pay has been based on working basic contracted hours and has not taken into account the often extensive additional hours required by their work."
In response to the case, PSNI deputy chief constable Stephen Martin said: "We are considering the findings of this legal judgment which is complex and significant.
"We continue to be involved in the legal process and as such it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time."
