THE Police Social and Welfare Association is calling on Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs to promote some 45 sergeants to the rank of police inspectors immediately following a High Court ruling.

Speaking to the Express last Thursday, secretary of the Association Sgt Michael Seales said High Court Judge Justice Mira Dean Amorer gave an oral judgement last week Monday that the 45 sergeants are not to undergo any further screening by the Promotions Advisory Board as it was unfair.

The officers, who were represented by attorney Wilston Campbell, were placed on a merit list since March 3, 2008 and were to be promoted within that year.

Two years later another batch of sergeants was due for a promotion and the former sergeants were told that they will have to re-take tests and subject themselves to another round of interviews if they were to be promoted along with the new batch.

The 45 policemen sought the intervention of the court to stop the advisory board from going ahead with what they deemed an unfair practice and were granted their wish when the matter ended.

Seales said they were being warned that the CoP, who was represented by Deputy Chief State Solicitor Neil Byam, will be appealing the decision and advised that such an action will demoralise the officers and eat away at the camaraderie.

The source added that there was a slight rift between the older and younger sergeants, with both sides "looking at each other like enemies".

To alleviate the rift the sergeants who were due to be promoted in 2010 have opted to give way to their seniors and await the next promotional period. The younger sergeants will then fill any remaining positions left after the 45 sergeants are promoted.

Seales said that to appeal the decision will be to delay the promotion process for up to two years, which will cause further tension among the officers.

He said the delay will not only affect the sergeants but constables and corporals alike who will be forced to wait until the positions are available before they are promoted.