The country is on high alert after gunmen ran amok in Paris killing 130 people and injuring around 400 more.
But while the UK might have the natural defence of being surrounded by water, only five Border Force boats patrol the entire coastline.
This number has been described as "woefully inadequate" by a former Special Branch officer, Chris Hobbs.
"At the moment we are trying to do things on a wing and a prayer," he said. "I think we are trying to make do at all levels of security, despite what the Government says, with the absolute minimum.
"If you are able to get your hands on a small boat or a yacht to come across and you want something smuggled... be it a person, be it a weapon, be it component parts of weapons... then that is an option.
"What these people will do, be they people smugglers, drugs smugglers, weapons smugglers, is look for the easiest route, they will look for the softest option where they are least likely to be detected."
Despite what is at stake many of those monitoring Britain's waters are volunteers like members of the Felixstowe Coast Patrol and Rescue Service.
Chairman John Cresswell, a former coastguard, says Suffolk alone has 300 miles of coastline which includes miles of deserted creeks and estuaries "that are open to mischief".
"At the end of the day... we are only 90km (55 miles) from mainland Europe, that's less than two hours on a fast boat," he said.
"At one time when a yacht left Europe to come over the England it had to book in with customs and have a small check.
"Now there is none of that. You can leave the coast of Europe and come straight across here to the UK and there are no checks done at all."
Former security minister and head of the navy, Admiral Lord West, says more resources are needed.
"I'm concerned the Border Force don't have the assets to do the sorts of things they need to do and also the other forces involved don't have the assets either," he said.
Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said: "Security at the border is our priority and Border Force has a fleet of five cutters that maintain a presence in UK waters.
"As announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), Border Force will be undertaking more joint working with law enforcement agencies and the Royal Navy to increase patrolling in our territorial waters.
"These measures will lead to faster, more co-ordinated responses to inbound threats and a more intelligence about illegal goods destined for our shores."
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