Protecting our ports isn’t a job for ‘Dad’s Army’

Honours system devalued

I was astonished to read your front-page report last week about the Home Office’s bizarre plan to enlist a ‘Dad’s Army’ of volunteers to help patrol our coastline. We have the sixth most powerful military in the world with more than 300,000 active personnel – surely we should be using some of them at our ports? Mervyn Williams, Huddersfield I hope your critical headline on the creation of a ‘Special Volunteer Force’ to be the eyes and ears of the Border Force at isolated ports and airfields doesn’t mean you support the militant PCS union leader in dismissing the plan out of hand.

I’m old enough to remember how the bravery of volunteers proved so invaluable during the Blitz. Faced with the choice of relying on conscientious volunteers or PCS jobsworths looking for a chance to go on strike, I know which I’d choose! Roy Daniels, Luton For the past 20 years, I have regularly sailed my yacht back and forth from Torquay to France and I have never been inspected by the Border Force on the UK coast. When I first started sailing in 1988, Torquay had two Customs You highlight that five MPs on the Commons HS2 Committee have been knighted, including chairman Robert Syms. I am one of his constituents and it’s a pity that Syms was nowhere to be seen when the local A&E department was threatened with closure, despite a petition attracting 75,000 officers as well as a Custom and Excise department that dealt with VAT. They are long gone.

When I am in French waters, I am checked regularly. Unless there is a dedicated personnel fit for purpose, there is no chance of controlling our borders. David Buckpitt, Torquay Even if we had an effective system for protecting our borders, it would be to no avail as our judiciary is determined to protect the human rights of people entering the country illegally, including criminals.

D. Harris, Fareham, Hampshire Our lifeboat service is manned by volunteers and they do a spectacular job in helping and signatures. His knighthood has devalued the award for those who truly deserve it. Mike Huntley, Poole The honours system used to reward outstanding work, but the time has surely come to scrap it.

John Roberts, Bradford protecting people around our coastline. Just because someone volunteers does not mean they are not professional. Name and address supplied There is, and always has been, only one problem with border control in our country: the complete lack of political will to do – and spend – what it takes to make it effective. S. Copper, Horsham, West Sussex Eyes and ears are better than nothing, but the ability to detain a suspected terrorist/ criminal until a proper official arrives is essential. J. Robson, Blandford Forum, Dorset