The primary reason for thefts in the agro-industrial complex (AIC) is the extremely poor organisation of security for these facilities. In a number of agricultural organisations, no security is provided for the facilities. There is a lack of proper management oversight of the work of security guards and the selection of candidates for positions involving material responsibility.
The primary reason for thefts in the agro-industrial complex (AIC) is the extremely poor organisation of security for these facilities. In a number of agricultural organisations, no security is provided for the facilities. There is a lack of proper management oversight of the work of security guards and the selection of candidates for positions involving material responsibility.
The issue of equipping agricultural organisation premises with locking devices, as well as ensuring adequate lighting for facilities and adjacent territories, is pressing. This should prevent criminals from gaining free access to the sites of offences.
Acts of theft of goods and materials entail both criminal and administrative liability, depending on the amount of damage caused. For criminal offences, liability is provided in the form of public works, a fine, correctional labour for up to two years, or arrest, or restriction of liberty for up to three years, or imprisonment for the same period.
During the sowing, harvesting, and procurement campaigns of 2023 in the Lepel district, 20 instances of theft of goods and materials from AIC facilities were identified. Those responsible were brought to administrative liability under Article 11.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus (Petty Theft).
Theft of fuel and lubricants is also a significant issue. It should be noted that Article 13.23 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus (Illegal circulation of petroleum liquid fuel in the Republic of Belarus), specifically Part 3 of Article 13.23 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus, provides for administrative liability for the acquisition, storage, use, or sale to individuals of coloured petroleum fuel supplied in the prescribed manner to organisations engaged in agricultural production, in the form of a fine ranging from 10 to 50 base units.
With the aim of preventing property theft in agricultural organizations, preventing offenses and crimes, and strengthening labor and transport discipline, as well as preventing drunkenness and alcoholism, law enforcement officers conduct checks of guard services and monitor agro-industrial complex facilities in the evening and at night in conjunction with prevention entities.
Police officers also conduct repeat inspections of farms. In some cases, it is established that no measures have been taken to eliminate deficiencies. In this regard, for failure to take measures to eliminate deficiencies concerning officials of agricultural enterprises, a penalty measure such as bringing to administrative responsibility under Art. 25.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus is applied, for which administrative responsibility of up to 10 base units is provided.
We are trying to reach farm managers, to open their eyes, to convince them that deficiencies in technical security and violations of labor discipline lead to theft causing significant material damage.
Dear farm managers, it is necessary to take immediate measures and ensure the safety of property by all possible means.
Department of Public Order Protection and Prevention of the Lepel District Executive Committee Department of Internal Affairs