By MATTHEW HICKLEY

Last updated at 21:52 19 May 2008

Discrimination against British servicemen and women wearing their uniform in public will become a criminal offence under Government proposals outlined yesterday.

Courts will impose tougher punishments on anyone who assaults or threatens a serviceman wearing the Queen's uniform - targeting them will be an "aggravating factor" in sentencing.

Other measures designed to boost recognition and respect for the forces include more homecoming parades for units returning from war and a drive to encourage thousands more school pupils to train as military cadets.

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There will also be a new National Armed Forces and Veterans Day from June next year, although ministers have yet to decide if it will be a bank holiday.

All 175,000 servicemen and women will be encouraged to wear their uniforms in public to boost the visibility of our shrinking forces.

The plans follow a study into The National Recognition of our Armed Forces, carried out at Gordon Brown's request by former Tory MP Quentin Davies.

It comes amid growing concern over the lack of public understanding or support for the military after years of controversial wars abroad.

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 war zones.

The report cites examples of negative attitudes to troops in uniform, including an Army officer who was refused entry to Harrods when he arrived in uniform after a Remembrance Day ceremony.

Troops returning from Afghanistan have been told to change into civilian clothes before landing at Birmingham Airport.

In Peterborough, RAF personnel were banned from wearing uniform in the town after incidents of verbal abuse.

The report says this contrasts sharply with attitudes in the U.S. and Canada, "where members of the public greet returning troops warmly and appreciatively."

It 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 "totally and utterly unacceptable".

The report also calls for a major expansion in cadet organisations. It says the social benefits of "team effort, purposeful endeavour and meeting physical challenges" go far beyond military training, with cadets much less likely to commit crimes as teenagers or later in life.

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The move will be controversial, however, particularly as young cadets receive weapons training.

Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, called for "a protocol" to limit Defence Ministry involvement in schools. She said youngsters "with limited job prospects" were being targeted for military careers.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Nick Harvey said: "Many of these proposals are good common sense and should be welcomed.

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"But we must never let pageantry obscure the hard facts about the way the Government treats our Armed Forces.

"An Armed Forces Day will ring hollow for forces families who still have to put up with sub-standard housing."

A day for heroes: Call up the cadets

From next year a special day will be earmarked to recognise servicemen and women and veterans. It will be a focus for open days and special parades.

It is likely to be the last Saturday in June, unless ministers agree to a new bank holiday - in which case it would be the last Friday or Monday. Troops in the parades will have another day off in lieu.

In addition, every unit or ship returning from combat will have a chance to stage a homecoming parade, with local authorities laying on a reception for troops and their families.

Such parades have become increasingly popular but the practice is patchy, often depending on individual officers or local councillors. Medal ceremonies could also be held publicly, rather than inside camps.

Only 130,000 schoolchildren - one in 50 - are part of cadet groups, either in the Combined Cadet Force at school or the Sea Cadets, Army Cadet Force or Air Training Corps outside.

Just 260 of the 6,400 secondary schools have CCF units, almost all of them grammar or private schools. Ministers want to do "everything possible" to encourage more comprehensives and city academies to join up.

Cadets receive adventure training, basic drill and weapons training and education about the armed forces, learning key skills such as teamwork and physical fitness.

Youngsters will also be taught about the role and work of the military as a compulsory part of the national curriculum.