The following table summarises the position regarding legal protections applying to decorations, medals and uniforms in other jurisdictions, using data gathered by the House of Commons Library.52
Country |
Offence |
Maximum Penalty (Fine/Imprisonment) |
Australia |
Fraudulently wearing a medal |
AUD$5,400 / 6 months |
Defacing/destroying a service decoration |
AUD$10,800 / 1 year |
|
Falsely representing oneself as returned service personnel |
AUD$5,400 / 6 months |
|
Austria |
Fraudulently wearing a medal |
€220 |
Wearing military uniform without permission |
€700 |
|
Belgium |
Fraudulently wearing a medal or a uniform |
€1,000 |
Canada |
Unlawful use of military uniforms or medals |
CAD$2,000 / 6 months |
Croatia |
Fraudulently wearing a medal or uniform |
Unknown |
Czech Republic |
Wearing medals or decorations not awarded |
CZK 3,000 |
Wearing a military uniform without permission |
CZK 3,000 |
|
Denmark |
Unlawful use of a military badge or uniform |
Unknown fine |
Estonia |
Various offences regarding improper use of medals |
300 fine units or €2,000 |
Unlawful use of a uniform or identification of an official |
300 fine units or €3,200 |
|
Finland |
Wearing a military medal not awarded |
Not an offence |
Wearing a military uniform without permission |
Unknown |
|
France |
Wearing a medal or decoration without right |
€15,000 /1 year |
Wearing a military uniform without permission |
€7,500 / 6 months |
|
Germany |
Illegitimately wearing military medals or decorations |
Unknown fine |
Wearing a uniform without permission |
Unknown fine / 1 year |
|
Greece |
Civilian fraudulently wearing a military uniform or medal |
Unknown fine / 6 months |
Military personnel wearing a uniform or medal without entitlement |
1 year |
|
Hungary |
Wearing medals or decorations without proper authorisation |
HUF300,000 / 60 days |
Wearing military uniform without permission |
Unknown |
|
Ireland |
Unauthorised use of medals and decorations |
IR£20 / 3 months |
Unlawful wearing of a military uniform |
IR£20 / 3 months |
|
Latvia |
Wearing a military medal or decoration not awarded |
Not an offence |
Wearing military uniform without permission |
Unknown |
|
Lithuania |
Wearing a military medal or decoration not awarded |
Not an offence |
Wearing military uniform without permission |
€44 |
|
Luxembourg |
Unauthorised wearing of uniform or medal |
€10,000 |
Netherlands |
Wearing insignia or decoration without permission |
Unknown fine / 12 days |
Wearing a uniform without permission |
Not an offence |
|
New Zealand |
Offences in respect of military decorations |
$500NZ |
Poland |
Unauthorised wearing of uniform or medal |
€235 |
Portugal |
Wearing medals or honours not entitled |
Unknown |
Illegitimately using a uniform |
6 months |
|
Illegitimately using a uniform (someone in public authority) |
1 year |
|
Romania |
Unlawfully wearing uniform in fraudulently exercising state authority |
5 years |
Russia |
Illegally wearing state awards (orders, medals etc.) |
A warning or a fine |
Wearing military uniforms with no right to do so |
A warning or a fine |
|
Slovakia |
Wearing military medals or decorations not awarded |
Not an offence |
Wearing a uniform without permission |
Not an offence |
|
Slovenia |
Illegitimately wearing a medal or decoration |
SIT200,000 |
Sweden |
Falsely wearing a uniform or medal to suggest military service |
Unknown fine / 6 months |
Penalty if the above caused considerable harm to the public |
2 years |
|
United States |
Purchasing, selling or trading service medals or badges |
Unknown fine / 6 months |
Fraudulent claims to hold military decorations or medals |
Unknown fine / 1 year |
|
Offences involving Congressional Medal of Honor |
Unknown fine / 1 year |
|
Offences involving certain other medals |
Unknown fine / 1 year |
16 November 2016