Dacy-Ann Graham, assistant commander, training and recruiting, Island Special Constabulary Force, interacts with two participants during Thursday's workshop on praedial larceny prevention held at Harman Barracks in Kingston. - Christopher Serju

The police are stepping up the fight against farm thieves by raising the awareness of members about all the relevant laws relating to praedial larceny and how to use these more effectively in stemming the scourge which now accounts for about $6 billion in livestock and crop losses to Jamaican farmers each year.

Some 60 members of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) participated in a praedial larceny prevention workshop at Harman Barracks on Thursday. It was the first in a series of events intended to better equip cops to take the fight to the thieves.

While the men and women of ISCF will spearhead the renewed thrust, all members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and its auxiliaries will be involved, according to Reginald Grant, praedial larceny prevention coordinator.

He told The Star: "It is a reinvigoration of the praedial larceny prevention programme and these guys are going to implement the strategy, put in place by the commissioner of police. Because there is a strategy, but we are saying it is not being implemented".

Grant, a retired assistant commissioner of police, was among presenters at the workshop where representatives of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), the Rural Agricultural Development Authority and Ministry of Health also provided valuable information on the relevant laws and strategies.

Christopher Murdock, commander of the ISCF, charged his colleagues to take the extra time to get it right in preparing their cases. "If you were scheduled to leave work at 4 o'clock but the praedial larceny investigation will take you up to 5 o'clock, don't watch the clock," he appealed.

Meanwhile, Camille Beckford, public relations officer for the JAS, brought copies of the receipt book which is at the centre of the traceability system for agricultural produce sold in commercial quantity, allowing participants to get better insight into how the system is intended to work.

William Broughton, director of the Environmental Unit in the Ministry of Health, explained the regulations relating to the proper slaughter, transportation and sale of meat. He underscored the value of greater collaboration between public health inspectors and the police, especially in the areas that relate to public health.