Volunteers could be deployed to help plug gaps in the UK’s Border Force, which has undergone drastic cuts under successive Conservative-led governments.

The plan, similar to the use of special constables in the police, is being considered in Whitehall. Under the proposal, teams of volunteers would be used to bolster staffing levels at the Border Force, which manages immigration and customs controls. The government stressed that involving volunteers in immigration enforcement was not under discussion.

Concerns have been raised in recent years about the coverage of dozens of minor harbours and landing places in the UK. “Small ports and airfields are a known security weakness in our border security, so it’s important to ensure that security is stepped up, particularly to stop illegal immigrants and returning Isis fighters,” said Charlie Elphicke, the MP for Dover.

But he 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.”