DSP Kevin Francis (L) and Sergeant Damian Harry (R) of the Praedial Larceny Prevention Unit look on after recovering a stolen Nubian buck earlier in the year.
The Praedial Larceny Prevention Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is reporting an increase in the theft of livestock in some parishes.
These are: St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, St. Catherine, St. Ann and St. Mary.
Praedial Larceny Officer, Sergeant Damian Harry, says thieves are stealing livestock more than agriculture produce.
The police believe this is due to the guns for meat trade between Jamaica and Haiti as well as Honduras.
While he did not provide a figure, Sergeant Harry said the unit is taking steps to address the issue as stolen meat poses a risk to public health.
"We conduct regular farmers meeting so that we get feedback from farmers and also using these meetings as a means of also gathering evidence to inform our operations and strategies going forward," he said.
"In addition to that, (we) ensure that the local command structure in those areas are aware and that a concentrated effort be placed on treating with reports involving farm theft; treating with the patrolling of these hotspot areas," he continued.
Prosecutions
Nine persons who were charged last Friday with breaches of the Agricultural Produce Act and the Public Health Act are to appear in court on September 9.
They were held during raids by the Praedial Larceny Prevention Unit at the Christiana Slaughter House and Christiana Market in Manchester.
Sergeant Harry said when the police questioned persons at the market, they were unable to produce receipts for the meat they claimed to have purchased.
"Additionally, we found out that a lot of persons who were operating as butchers were operating without a butchers' license under the Public Health Butchers' Regulation and so they were charged for that as well," he said.
They were charged with breaches of the Agricultural Produce Act.
All feeds
