Exposing Walter Mitty: The Awards for Valour (Protection) Bill Contents

Appendix

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


52 ‘Stolen Valour’: An international comparison, Commons Briefing Paper CBP-7750, House of Commons Library, October 2016




16 November 2016