JCF Launches Agricultural Protection Branch to Tackle Praedial Larceny and protect farmers
In a bold move to defend Jamaica’s food supply and disrupt criminal financing, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has officially launched a new Agricultural Protection Branch (APB). The unit, unveiled this week in Kingston, represents a major escalation in the fight against praedial larceny—agricultural theft that law enforcement officials say is increasingly being used to fund gang activity and undermine national stability.
Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Strategic Operations, Warren Clarke, described praedial larceny not as petty theft but as a “clear and present danger to our way of life.” He emphasized that the initiative is not merely an agricultural intervention, but a matter of national security.
“Much of the yield from farms across the island has been pillaged by elements of criminal gangs,” Clarke warned. “The stolen resources drive influence—political influence even—fueling the purchase of firearms and empowering third-generation gangs that threaten the country’s governance and safety.”
A Sector Under Siege
Agriculture contributes over $90 billion annually to Jamaica’s economy and supports more than 200,000 livelihoods, yet the sector faces sustained threats. Beyond theft, the industry is suffering from declining interest among younger Jamaicans, something Clarke called “a shame.”
“It’s rare that a youngster out of high school or university says they want to go into agriculture. The industry has been under siege from cultural unattractiveness,” he noted.
Strategic, Community-Focused Policing
The APB will have a national presence, deploying officers in key farming regions and working hand-in-hand with farmers, government agencies, and private sector stakeholders. It will integrate intelligence-gathering, surveillance, and investigations into its core operations and form part of the JCF’s broader violence prevention strategy.
“Pursuing praedial larceny targets aligns with everything else we are doing in the Force to drive violence down,” Clarke said.
Impact Beyond the Farm
The consequences of agricultural crime ripple far beyond the fields and barns. Farmers report devastating financial losses and live in fear of attacks, while the nation faces rising food prices and economic volatility.
“Every stolen crop, every lost animal, represents a loss to our nation,” Clarke said. “It impacts food availability, drives up prices, and can create instability.”
A Call to Action
Describing the APB as essential to national development, DCP Clarke issued a passionate charge to the unit’s officers:
“The protection of our substance is everybody’s business. Remain relentless in your pursuit of those who seek to diminish the ideal of Jamaica being the best place to live, work, raise families, and grow businesses.”
“Much of the yield from farms across the island has been pillaged by elements of criminal gangs,” he explained. “The stolen resources drive influence, even political influence, which threatens governance; purchase firearms and ammunition and otherwise empower third-generation gangs that dampen the fortunes of our country.”
A Coordinated National Response
The newly formed Agricultural Protection Branch has been tasked with addressing these issues head-on. Its core mandate is to protect crops, livestock and the critical infrastructure that supports agricultural production. Officers will be deployed across key farming regions and will work in close partnership with farming communities, other state agencies, and private stakeholders.
“The mandate is clear: to protect our agriculture resources from theft and damage,” DCP Clarke said. “The branch will employ a multifaceted approach, which includes intelligence, investigation, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and collaboration with key partners within and outside the industry,” he explained.
The branch will also be integrated into the JCF’s broader violence prevention strategy, reflecting the links between agricultural theft and violent crime.
“Pursuing praedial larceny targets aligns with everything else that we are doing in the Force in driving violence down,” Clarke noted. “We are going to be identifying those criminals and those gangs that use the financing fleeced from our farmers to empower themselves. We will be looking for them in earnest.”
The economic impact of praedial larceny has been widely documented in recent years, with farmers citing major financial losses and growing fear over their personal safety. But Clarke stressed that the consequences of agricultural crime extend beyond the farm gate.
“Every stolen crop, every lost animal, represents a loss to our nation,” he warned. “It impacts the availability of food, drives prices in the wrong direction, and can lead to instability,” the DCP said.
Describing the APB as an essential part of national development, he issued a rousing call to the officers assigned to the new unit. “The protection of our substance is everybody’s business,” Clarke said. “I’d like to charge you, the members of the Agricultural Protection Branch, to remain relentless in your pursuit of those who seek to diminish the ideal of Jamaica being the best place to live, work and grow families and your business.”