I'm sorry but I need to post this again. Why didn't we throw a few billion at this? Is it because more robust suggestions would be voted down in the HoP by the Greens etc?
Why haven't we, as quickly as possible, assigned funds to procure a significant number of patrol boats to patrol English waters? Why haven't we implemented drone tech to assist monitoring of our waters and coastline? Why haven't we employed a significant number of people to patrol in said boats and on said coastlines? Why haven't we built basic, clean, safe, manned accommodation (not in the middle of small towns etc) to house these people while their applications are considered?
etc etc.
We should have thrown the money at this to make the UK a less attractive proposition.
I'll also say again, I'm increasingly convinced this is all by design. I'm not sure what the end goal is, however we appear to be, in reality, doing almost feck all to stop these boats.