The agricultural protection branch reports 50-60% reduction in reported agricultural thefts within their first year of operation

Written by: Sugar Ray Thomas

The Agricultural Protection Branch (AFB) is reporting a 50 to 60 per cent reduction in reported agricultural thefts within their first year of operation.

Commanding Officer for AFB, Senior Superintendent (SSP) Oral Pascoe provided the update during the police’s Force4Good Podcast yesterday.

The branch launched in June last year.

SSP Pascoe said prior to the branch being launched, there were approximately 700 to 800 reports of praedial larceny yearly for 2022 and 2023.

But he said the figure plummeted significantly in the last six months of 2025 due to the work of the branch.

SSP Pascoe explained that so far this year, there have been 146 reports of stolen agriculture items.

He is also reporting over $9 million in recovered produce.

SSP Pasco credits this success to farmers having confidence in the work of the police.

Meanwhile, SSP Pascoe said the AFB has made a significant number of arrests and achieved a high conviction rate.