Royal Navy and the Army warn cadets not to wear uniforms on the streets over terrorist attack fears

Troops in Lancashire take decision as it is 'better safe than sorry'

Army and Navy Cadets asked to cover their uniform or change at meetings



Military cadets have been banned from wearing uniforms on the streets in case they are targeted by terrorists.

Teenage Navy and Army cadets were told to either cover up their fatigues when walking to meetings or to change when they arrived.

Former soldiers said the order was ‘sad’ but acknowledged that fanatics intent on attack ‘would not see a child, they would just see a uniform’.

Ban: Cadets in Lancashire have been asked not to wear their uniforms in case they are targeted by terrorists (file picture)

Defence chiefs sent out guidance nationally following the murder of soldier Lee Rigby, 25, who was hacked to death in the street near his barracks in Woolwich, south-east London, last Wednesday. Drummer Rigby was wearing a Help for Heroes sweatshirt when he was killed.

Initial instructions from the Ministry of Defence to commanders said troops and cadets should be ‘advised to maintain a low public profile; uniforms should be concealed while in a public place, particularly when travelling alone or from home to unit’.

Prime Minister David Cameron contradicted the guidance the following day when he insisted the ‘best way to defeat terrorism is to go about their lives as normal’. But in a string of places – especially those with large Muslim populations – the leaders of cadet detachments are exercising caution.

Hero: Father Lee Rigby, 25, from Manchester, was executed by two suspected Islamic terrorists in Woolwich on Wednesday afternoon

Cadets in Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley have all been ordered not to wear uniforms outside their bases. It is understood cadets in Bradford and Leeds have followed suit.

Mark Thompson, Officer in Charge of Accrington Sea Cadets – a town which has an Asian population of 10 per cent – said they had been advised to take precautions by the Royal Navy.

He said: ‘The safety of the cadets is paramount and when it comes to children, basically it is “better safe than sorry”. Our detachment received an email from the Royal Navy advising our cadets to wear something on top to cover up their uniform when out and about. This is the advice we have passed on to our cadets.’

Last respects: Soldiers in full uniform salute murdered British soldier Lee Rigby at the site where he met his death last week

Marilyn Gregson, whose 16-year-old son Hadyn is in the Army Cadet Force in Blackburn – where 20 per cent of the town is Asian – said: ‘I am just stunned that it has come to this.

‘While I am not sorry the cadets are taking precautions, you would think cadets could wear their uniform with pride in their own country. Though it is necessary, it is just awful that our cadets don’t feel safe on the streets.’

Keith Shepherd, founder of soldiers’ charity Salute, said: ‘This sort of precaution was common practice when I served in Northern Ireland and we were not allowed to wear our uniforms on the streets.

‘A terrorist would not see a child, they would just see a uniform. It is a sad state of affairs.’