Plans to urge soldiers, sailors and airmen to wear their uniforms in public were in disarray last night after RAF personnel were ordered to dress in civilian clothes while off-duty because of persistent threats and abuse.

The uniform ban was imposed by the station commander at RAF Wittering, near Peterborough, after a number of servicemen and women walking in the city in their military clothes were targeted because of their involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gordon Brown and Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, tried last night to overturn the ban. But the incidents in Peterborough threaten to undermine a new planned policy, favoured by the Prime Minister, that aims to draw the military and general public closer together.

The Prime Minister is to be presented this month with a report that will call for the widespread wearing of military uniforms to engender respect and appreciation for the Armed Forces. In the US service personnel wear their uniforms off-duty. This was banned in Britain in recent years because of the IRA terrorist threat.

Quentin Davies, a former Tory defence spokesman who defected to Labour, was asked by the Prime Minister to review ways of improving the public’s attitude and opinion of the Armed Forces.

The Times understands that Mr Davies will recommend that all British military personnel should be encouraged to wear their uniforms in the street. The MP is known to be of the view that if other sections of society, such as firefighters, paramedics and police officers, can wear uniforms, members of the Armed Forces should also do so as a matter of course. Mr Davies is also expected to recommend that local authorities be persuaded to organise homecoming parades for any units based in their communities that have served in Iraq, Afghanistan or other conflict zones.

Mr Davies and two aides have visited the United States, Canada and France to gauge how they treat their military in public. But the Peterborough incidents highlight concerns that some sections of the British public may be openly hostile to the proposals.

After the Peterborough decision became known yesterday, there was an immediate response from Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence. An adviser to the Prime Minister said: “Our Armed Forces should be able to wear their uniforms with pride and to have the respect of their local communities. If instead they face abuse and violence, then this must be dealt with by the police as a matter of urgency.” The Defence Secretary said that the right of Forces to wear their uniforms in public needed to be defended. “It is a great shame that some individuals in this community don’t have respect for our brave Forces, who every day are doing a great deal for this nation. This is not a situation we should be tolerating.”

Group Captain Ro Atherton, the RAF Wittering station commander, took advice from RAF Police before ordering his personnel to keep a low profile. Squadron Leader Tony Walsh, a spokesman for the base, said that a number of personnel who lived in and around Peterborough suffered abuse.

The order ran counter to an existing general policy of allowing uniforms to be worn more widely, which came after the easing of tensions in Northern Ireland. During the Troubles, the wearing of uniforms in public on the mainland was regarded as too risky.

The abuse, said to have been from a cross-section of the community, came to light after Parviz Khan, from Birmingham, was jailed for planning to kidnap and behead a Muslim soldier.

Marion Todd, Peterborough’s mayor, described the jeers as despicable. The mayor, whose great-nephew is serving in Afghanistan, said: “It’s a sad day for the city and for the country when the RAF can’t wear their uniforms . . . A small minority of people shouldn’t be able to dictate to us.”

Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, the Chief of the Air Staff, said: “Whatever people’s views are about specific military operations, everyone should be able to recognise the bravery and professionalism of our Armed Forces and respect the difficult job they do.”

Liam Fox, the Shadow Defence Secretary, said: “Of course the commander on the ground must make the final decision but I regret that the circumstances exist where a decision like this had to be made. I think the majority of our public would be appalled to hear there are no-go areas for our Armed Forces, even in their own country.”

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