Tavira and GNR create program to combat agricultural theft

Unprecedented program is based on a platform that will aggregate information about properties and who is authorized to harvest, among other things.

Improving the fight against agricultural theft and making the action of the security forces more efficient and swift is the objective of a new program that the GNR and the Câmara de Tavira launched on Wednesday, the 12th, which will be based on an online platform with information ranging from the georeferencing of land to the identification of people and vehicles authorized to collect on a given property.

This new tool, which, despite being born in Tavira, may be replicated in other municipalities in the future, aims to be a way for the GNR to fulfill one of its main objectives, that of «defending the heritage and the people who are harassed by thefts every year» , according to Captain Humberto Galego, of the GNR.

This is a local solution, framed by the Tavira Segura municipal program, which appears at a time in which the sector is still waiting for the approval of specific laws, long promised, to tackle this problem, including the obligation of a declaration of origin, at the time of sale.

At stake is "a constant problem, which affects producers", that of thefts on agricultural properties. «Last year, as in the most recent ones, it was carob, a few years ago it was avocado», together with citrus fruit and even cork.

«This works in cycles and evolves, so we have to adapt, creating public security policies that meet people's expectations and needs», explains Captain Humberto Galego.

In this case, adaptation is the right word, since the idea comes from an existing program.

«The GNR already has some programs, such as Escola Segura, Comércio Seguro and Residência Segura. Our idea comes a little from this last program, but instead of being put into practice only with the means of the guard, we invited Ms. president to support us and make this a municipal objective, to reach more people. Without the support of the Chamber and the Parish Councils, we would have much more difficulties in implementing this program », she explains.

 

 

 

But how does the platform work?

First of all, producers and owners of agricultural land who are potential victims must register on the site. Membership is voluntary and free.

In order to ensure greater membership and that no one is left out, the Parish Councils will help those interested to register on the platform and take care of everything that is necessary.

«Before we presented this platform, there was training here at the library, aimed at employees of the Parish Councils, so that people can go there and it is the employees who register on the platform or know what information is needed to do in installments», Ana Paula Martins, mayor of Tavira, revealed to journalists on the sidelines of the session.

Once registered, farmers are asked for varied information, which will have restricted and limited access to authorized persons, the GNR and other official entities involved. As an additional form of security, to reassure people, whenever someone accesses a beneficiary's information, they will have to justify why they do so.

The requested information goes through the identification of the authorized producers and gatherers, the license plates of the vehicles that may be in the field, the number and type of trees, as well as their age, for calculating the production, among others, linked to the harvest itself, namely if it has already been done or not.

An orthophoto map and georeferencing of the land are also associated with each property profile, as well as the direct contacts of those responsible for the property and whether they wish to file a complaint if any crime is detected.

At the same time, on the ground itself, a plaque will be placed, with the GNR sign and a «random, non-sequential number», «similar to what happens in the Safe Residence programme», which will refer to the database.

This plaque, which must be associated with «something that shows that something has changed, even if it means putting up a fence, building a wall, identifying the land, cleaning it», will motivate the thief to «realize that there is a difference».

«From our experience, the image to send to a security force immediately puts into question the delinquent's will to commit any type of crime», says Captain Humberto Galego.

 

 

From the moment there is a complaint, and if the land has a plaque, the GNR can act much more effectively, guaranteed the representatives of this security force present at the session.

First of all, because the platform automatically traces the best route to reach the location. Then, because the GNR soldiers who take care of the incident will be able to do a lot of work, even before reaching the place where the crime is taking place.

With information regarding the catchers and other persons authorized to be on the ground, as well as the vehicles associated with the property, the security forces will also have a justification to detain the suspected person, if he is not on the platform.

Finally, timely contact with the injured parties could result in an increase in complaints and, consequently, in the arrests and court appearances of suspected persons caught in the act of committing a crime.

«For us, GNR, what is important is to know who are the people who are victims of crime every year, to know what they have to protect and at what time of the year they are more likely to be victims of a crime», summarizes the GNR officer.

Bearing in mind that the guard's resources «are not vast», it is necessary to direct them «where they are needed. If we know that it is usual for criminals to go to a certain property, we have to police the area. The same goes for those who have already finished catching, so that we know whether or not it is worth sending resources to these places», said Captain Humberto Galego.

«I think that the platform has a lot of room for progression, especially if the producers come to us and declare their properties, voluntarily – because everything is done on that basis, of voluntary participation», believes Ana Paula Martins.

«The more information we have, the better the result of the application will be», concluded the mayor of Tavira, who ensures that she has «every desire to extend it to whoever needs it» and make the application available «to other City Councils, if they want work together with us”.

The idea that GNR and Tavira will put into practice was praised both by producers present at the session, and by José Filipe, director of Agrupa – Grouping of Almond and Carob Producers.

 

 



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