Cops vow to reduce praedial larceny

Sixty-nine thieves arrested and 15 convicted since the start of this year

Arthur Hall, Senior News Editor

The police are moving to allay the fears of farmers who believe that they have been left at the mercy of praedial thieves.

The country's farmers continue to lose millions of dollars in produce and livestock each week to thieves, despite making numerous reports to the police, and the several measures implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture over the years.

This has prompted some farmers to complain that the police are not taking the problem of the 'two-foot puss' seriously.

But Assistant Commissioner of Police in Charge of Operations, Wray Palmer, says that is far from the truth.

"Tackling praedial larceny is a major plank in the police's crime-reduction strategy," Palmer told The Sunday Gleaner.

"The Police High Command is taking the matter very seriously and we are working at every level from the Agriculture Ministry to the farmers. The JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) is doing a lot," added Palmer.

He pointed to Praedial Larceny Prevention Strategy crafted by the police, and the appointment of praedial larceny  coordinator and assistant coordinator in each police division.

"These officers are appointed to deal specifically with matters relating to praedial larceny. Their functions include ongoing discussion with farmers, to develop and implement crime-fighting strategies to deal with this problem," said Palmer.

The veteran cop pointed to other initiatives of the JCF, including making the police stations available for farmer registration, patrols in farming communities, setting up farm-watch programmes, and discussing praedial-larceny matters at community meetings.

"They are conducting regular vehicle checkpoints with a focus on farm produce to determine source of origin and ownership. At this point, persons are required to produce for the police receipts for farm produce in their possession or under their control."

Palmer also noted that the JCF partners with the Ministry of Agriculture at a strategic level in providing developing capacities and capabilities of both farmers and police by instituting training, improving public awareness and accessibility to the farmers' database, which is used to verify registered farmers.

"For the first five months of this year, we made 69 arrests and secured 15 convictions," declared Palmer, even as he admitted that more needs to be done.

In addition, Palmer said the police have conducted 854 inspections of receipt books, 223 farms visits and 613 meetings with farmers.

"Our farmers are among the most vulnerable and they must be protected. We are aware that farming provides for their economic well-being and praedial larceny affects them negatively."

According to Palmer, the police now have to use 12 pieces of legislation to prosecute praedial-larceny matters.

He argued that the strengthening of the Praedial Larceny Act with wider provisions to include offences now under other legislation with harsher penalties would be welcomed by the cops.

"In St Thomas, we have found persons stealing a truckload of mangoes, and I'm told that each one is sold for $100 on the streets, so you know that's thousands of dollars, but when that person is taken before the court, they could be fined $20,000 or three months," lamented Palmer.

"It doesn't take much to steal $500,000 of ground provision from one farmer, which could be their life investment and could leave that farmer devastated, but the punishment would not be a dis-incentive to the thief."

maximum sentence

However, Palmer noted that if these crooks are charged under the Larceny Act, they could be sentenced to a maximum of seven years.

"That is why we are asking for a single piece of legislation under the Praedial Larceny Act."

Palmer's comments came days after thieves stole more than 30 sheep and 18 goats valued at some $2 million from a farm in St Catherine.

"We cannot enforce he law without cooperation and partnership with the relevant stakeholders. We are encouraging all farmers to register with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, inform the police of any activities or concerns that they are aware of that is likely to result in praedial larceny, and to take the necessary steps to secure their farms and produce.

"We are also appealing to members of the public who may have information on any matter relating to praedial larceny to assist by providing such information to the police," said Palmer.