The Home Office has confirmed that it is considering plans to create a volunteer force to patrol some of Britain’s borders after Brexit.
The volunteers would be used to guard small air and sea ports around Britain.
A trial run of what is being called ‘Border Force Special Volunteer Force’ is going to involve around 50 volunteers at major East Coast ports including Felixstowe and Immingham, in addition to light airfields.
A Home Office spokesman said: "Border Force is currently considering the potential benefits of a Border Force Special Volunteer force, and is in discussions with other law enforcement agencies such as local police to understand how they use volunteers in addition to their existing workforce."
But the plans for the volunteer ‘Border Force’ have today been described as a ‘border farce’.
Lib Dem Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said: “Now we see what the Conservatives really mean by 'controlling our borders' - they want to re-invent Dad’s Army at our ports.
“This would be funny if it wasn’t so serious. Our small ports are Britain’s soft underbelly in the fight against illegal immigration, drug smuggling and terrorism."
Labour MP Mary Glindon blasted the plans as "farcical", adding: "What message does it send to the world about our border security if volunteers are doing it?"
Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who is chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said it was wrong to use volunteers in the place of fully-trained staff.
She said: "Filling the gaps with volunteers because of budget and staffing cuts raises very serious questions about border security and the Home Office commitment to this important public service.”
She added that her committee would be calling for evidence on the proposal at the start of their inquiry into the post-Brexit border security.
Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents Border Force staff, warned the plans were "risking this country's security on the cheap".
He told the Sunday Mirror: "Border Force are already using poorly trained seasonal workers at most ports and airports, not just at peak periods but throughout the year because of permanent staff cuts.
"The plans to use volunteer Border Force specials is a further move towards casualisation of the workforce.
"Government rhetoric has claimed that they are 'strong and stable'. That is not the effect of their policies on this country.
"They are making our borders weaker with the use of casual labour and they are risking this country's security on the cheap."
Mr Serwotka demanded the Government "stop these ridiculous plans to use volunteers to protect our borders."
Dover MP Charlie Elphicke told the Mail on Sunday: “Border security is a skilled job, which takes many years of training. I would urge great caution before seeking to adopt a model like that used by the police, with special constables. We can’t have a Dad’s Army-type of set-up.”
It’s no wonder the government is looking to control our borders on the cheap after Brexit. The cost of Brexit is going to be so high, that the country won’t be able to afford proper border patrols.
Oh well, at least we’re getting our country back (in a sorry state).
Permission to speak, Mr Mainwaring? Shut up, Jones, can’t you see we lost?
The idea of a ‘Dad’s Army’ team of volunteers to patrol our borders after Brexit is rumoured to be the brain child of Brandon Lewis, Minister of State for Immigration.
Stupid boy.
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Other articles by Jon Danzig:
- Why Brexit is madness
- Beware the rise of nationalism
- EU is not the USSR
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