Praedial larceny upgrade - To be treated as organised crime

Persons involved in the theft of agricultural produce could soon face stiff penalties under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in his Budget Debate presentation, said an amendment to the Proceeds of Crime Act, to include praedial larceny, is among legislative measures to be given priority this fiscal year.

Head of the Community Safety and Security Branch, Assistant Commissioner of Police Gary Welsh, in welcoming the move, says it will enable praedial larceny to be treated as organised crime.

Welsh, who was speaking at the launch of three farm watches in Portland, said, "We classify it under simple larceny, but it is no longer petty. It is serious organised crime and it will attract stiff penalties. The worst crime that anyone could get involved in is called organised crime. It is crime for profit, where people perpetrate crime with the sole intent of making a business," he said.

The POCA deals specifically with organised crime and provides for the seizure of assets of persons found to have accumulated wealth through criminal means. It seeks to ensure that persons engaged in criminal activities do not profit from their ill-gotten gains.

The proposed amendments to the Agricultural Produce and the Praedial Larceny (Prevention) acts will include increased fines from $250,000 to $3 million, among other things.