Agricultural Protection Branch intensifies operations

The Agricultural Protection Branch (APB) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) concluded a three-day tour of St Ann farming communities last Saturday.

The tour took the team through various communities of Brown's Town, namely, Orange Hill, Linton Park, Friendship district and Egypt Road. Seven individuals were arrested for breaches of the National Animal Identification and Traceability System, an identification and registration system for the Jamaican livestock population beginning with bovine animals (cattle). This system incorporates the animals' identity, ownership, geographical location and movement activity. The persons charged were found with animals (cattle) that were untagged and for which they could not account.

Accompanying the team was Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police and commanding officer of APB Oral Pascoe. He joined the Area 2 APB team, and engaged agricultural stakeholders, reinforcing the importance of strict law enforcement within the agricultural sector. The visit was aimed directly at addressing the persistent challenges posed by agricultural theft, which significantly impacts the livelihoods of farmers, butchers, and other stakeholders in Jamaica's agricultural industry. During the tour, Pascoe underscored to his team the critical need to enforce laws related to larceny of livestock and praedial larceny.

"Our key objective is to strengthen enforcement and the compliance framework. This will protect farmers, stakeholders and enhance Jamaica's national food security," said Pascoe. This firm stance is intended to ensure compliance with regulations governing the agricultural sector and to deter future criminal activity.

The APB's intensified efforts in St Ann reflect a broader strategy to safeguard agricultural production and ensure the economic stability of farming communities. Agricultural crimes continue to lead to substantial financial losses and discourage investment in the sector. Overall, Pascoe and his team engaged with local farmers and listened to their concerns, reiterating the APB's commitment to protecting their assets. The initiative is expected to foster greater trust between law enforcement and the farming community, with the hope of encouraging more reporting of incidents and collaboration in crime prevention. The JCF also urged all citizens to report any suspicious activities to their nearest police station.