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Uniform ban stays despite meeting
THE RAF commander at the centre of the ban over service personnel wearing military uniforms in public stood firm after a meeting with Peterborough's mayor and the city's police chief.
THE RAF commander at the centre of the ban over service personnel wearing military uniforms in public stood firm after a meeting with Peterborough's mayor and the city's police chief.RAF Wittering station commander Group Captain Ro Atherton was locked in discussions for more than two hours inside the Mayor's Parlour at Peterborough Town Hall yesterday.
She had called the meeting to address any concerns that Peterborough Mayor Cllr Marion Todd and Cambridgeshire police Chief
Superintendent Paul Phillipson may have with the ban, and the huge reaction to it.
Grp Capt Ro Atherton, who turned up to the meeting in full uniform, had previously told serving troops to keep a low profile after taking advice from military police at RAF Wittering, near Peterborough.
The RAF said personnel had been suffering repeated verbal abuse when out in the city and they were keen to prevent problems escalating.
Much of the alleged abuse centred on the force's operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The ban sparked a heated reaction from people across the world, and The Evening Telegraph is still being flooded with messages of support telling RAF personnel to proudly wear their uniform in public.
After the meeting, Cllr Todd, who initially called the ban a "sad day for the city", read out a statement on behalf of the trio.
She said: "We are all delighted with the overwhelming level of public support over the last few days and the strength of feeling expressed regarding all servicemen's right to wear their uniform anywhere without harassment.
"Personnel have worn, and will continue to wear, uniform during
public functions such as parades and services, and in their everyday working lives serving the public in, for example, Peterborough District Hospital.
"The instruction not to wear uniform off duty in Peterborough, for the time being, still stands, and we all support this decision. Obviously this instruction will be kept under review."
Cllr Todd also said that no set date had been fixed for a parade in
Peterborough city centre to honour the sterling work of returning servicemen from Iraq and Afghanistan. It is mooted to take place in September.
The decision not to lift the ban at present will be frowned upon by Peterborough's MP Stewart Jackson, who has tabled an early day motion at the House of Commons calling for the uniform ban to be lifted and describing it as "completely inappropriate and disproportionate".
To join the hundreds of people who have already signed up to The ET's Wear It With Pride Campaign encouraging servicemen and women to wear their uniform on the city's streets, leave a comment below and add your name or fill in a simple form to show your support.
Special report: RAF uniform row.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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