A National Police officer in Tarragona has won the right to compensation for the clothing costs she covered herself while working plainclothes duties. The High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) said that if the administration requires officers to work without a uniform, it must pay the extra expense.
The case concerns her work in a police security unit in Tarragona, where some duties require officers to be out of uniform for surveillance and investigation tasks. For several years, she carried out those duties without any specific clothing allowance.
She received no payment for using her own wardrobe for official service. After her initial claim went unanswered, she took the case to court. The TSJC ruled in her favour, applying a precedent set by the Supreme Court, which says police officers required to work plainclothes should receive compensation similar to other officers in comparable situations.
The tribunal said plainclothes work is a job requirement, not a personal choice. It added that the cost of clothing cannot fall only on the officer. The ruling recognises her right to compensation for several years of service, but it does not set an exact amount.
The administration will now calculate the sum owed, plus any interest. The compensation will not cover the full period she first claimed, because part of that time has already prescribed. The decision is not yet final and can still be appealed. For more Catalonia-wide court and public service coverage, see News.
