landmark court ruling, the Shadow Home Affairs Minister said last night.

Alex Scott said Government had ignored opportunities to legalise Wayne Perinchief's redundancy but had passed them all up.

"What a tremendous price to pay,'' said Mr. Scott "The tragedy is we lose the services of Mr. Perinchief and we have to pay for the error of judgement.'' Earlier this week Puisne Judge Norma Wade ruled that former Assistant Police Commissioner Mr. Perinchief was unlawfully made redundant.

She ruled that because Cabinet made an unlawful decision in abolishing the post of Assistant Commissioner, the post had never ceased to exist.

Mr. Perinchief, 54, will now sue Government for the loss of six years service and it is possible former Superintendent George Rose, whose post was abolished at the same time, could also sue.

Last night Mr. Scott added that the damages, if both sue successfully, could be as much as $1 million, which would have to come from the public purse.

"We are gratified by the conclusion of the court case and the position that the court came to,'' added Mr. Scott.

"Government was just so bent on removing these officers from the Force that they totally seemed to lose perspective.

"They had the opportunity to bring this to Parliament where it could have been confirmed or rejected. They would not have had this mess.'' Mr. Perinchief and Mr. Rose were made redundant under a shake-up of the Force introduced by Commissioner Colin Coxall.

The shake-up reduced the number of senior officer posts -- cutting the Assistant Commissioner and Superintendent ranks by two.

However under the terms of the 1974 Police Act Government needed legislative approval to alter the size of the Police establishment and no legislation was introduced.

In effect it meant that the posts had never been abolished and Mr. Perinchief was unlawfully made redundant.

Similar legislation covers another 15 Government departments although at this stage it is not known what effect the Perinchief ruling could have on those departments.

However Mr. Scott added: "This has now set a precedent for other Ministries and civil servants.'' Government has up to six weeks in which to launch an appeal against the judgement, but last night Solicitor General Barry Meade was not commenting on whether an appeal would be lodged.

Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness also said he was unable to comment on the issue.