Discrimination against British soldiers in uniform to become a criminal offence
Last updated at 16:35pm on 19th May 2008New laws will make it a criminal offence to discriminate against Britain's soldiers, sailors and airmen wearing uniform in public, under Government proposals outlined yesterday.
Courts will also hand out tougher punishments to anyone who assaults or threatens a serviceman wearing the Queen's uniform - which will become an 'aggravating factor' during sentencing.
Other measures designed to boost recognition and respect for the UK armed forces include a drive to encourage thousands more school pupils to train as military cadets, and teaching youngsters about the role and work of the military as a compulsory part of the National Curriculum.
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The Government confirmed that a new National Armed Forces and Veterans Day will be introduced from next year, in late June, although ministers are still weighing up whether it should be a new Bank Holiday, along with more homecoming parades for units returning from war.
And all servicemen and women will be encouraged to wear military uniform in public wherever possible, to boost the visibility of Britain's rapidly-shrinking forces.
The study into National Recognition of our Armed Forces was carried out by former Conservative MP Quentin Davies at Gordon Brown's request, amid growing concern over the lack of public understanding or support for the military after years of controversial wars abroad.
(4) Last year the head of the Army General Sir Richard Dannatt warned that a lack of public appreciation risked 'sapping' the willingness of troops to serve in dangerous warzones abroad.
Opposition MPs broadly welcomed yesterday's proposals but claimed they would 'ring hollow' for many personnel who suffer from the lack of funding for the military, often having to live in sub-standard housing.
The report cites examples of negative attitudes to troops in uniform, including a security assistant at Harrods in London barring an Army officer wearing service dress after a Remembrance Day ceremony.
Harrods insisted it would still exclude servicemen or women wearing 'fatigues' - the combat clothing which most wear for everyday work - a rule which the report condemns as 'quite unacceptable.'
Other examples include troops returning from fighting in Afghanistan being told to change into civilian clothes before passing through Birmingham Airport, and being kept away from public areas of Edinburgh Airport.
In Peterborough, RAF personnel were banned from wearing uniform in town after incidents of verbal abuse.
This 'contrasts sharply' with American and Canada 'where members of the public greet returning troops warmly and appreciatively.'
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Senior figures in the Armed Forces fear the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have harmed the Armed Forces' reputation at home
The report calls for legislation making it an offence for public services or private companies to discriminate against anyone in military uniform - putting such treatment on a legal par with racial or sexual discrimination.
Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said such cases were rare, but were 'totally and utterly unacceptable', and details of the new laws were being discussed.
The package will also push for a major expansion in cadet organisations.
Currently around one in 50 schoolchildren are part of cadet groups - 130,000 in all - either in the Combined Cadet Force in schools or in the Sea Cadets, Army Cadet Force or Air Training Corps outside.
Only around 260 out of 6,400 secondary schools have CCF units - almost all in Grammar or private schools - and ministers want to 'do everything possible to encourage more Comprehensive Schools and City Academies to join up.'
The report claims the social benefits for young cadets of 'team effort, purposeful endeavour and meeting physical challenges' go far beyond military training, and cites figures showing that while one in 19 boys aged 15 to 17 were charged, cautioned or warned for a criminal offence in 2004, among cadets of the same age the figure was just one in 625.
The move is likely to be controversial, however, particularly as young cadets receive weapons training.
Last month the National Union of Teachers was criticised when members voted to ban the military from recruiting in schools.
Yesterday the NUT's acting general secretary Christine Blower claimed youngsters 'with limited job prospects are being targeted for careers in the military', and called for 'a protocol' to set limits to the MOD's involvement in schools.
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: 'Many of these proposals are good common sense and should be welcomed.
'But we must never let pageantry obscure the hard facts about the way the current Government treats our Armed Forces.
'An Armed Forces Day is welcome, but it will ring hollow for those forces families who still have to put up with sub-standard housing.'