UPA warns of an escalation of robberies in freseras holdings and calls for more vigilance of the Civil Guard
The Union of Small Farmers (UPA) has warned of the increase of thefts in the strawberry farms, due to the small number of Guardia Civil agents assigned to these areas. According to this agrarian union, this has caused thieves to enter the greenhouses at any time of day, which has led the strawberrt producers to organize into vigilance groups to protect their products themselves.
To raise public awareness about these thefts, UPA has called on consumers not to buy strawberries on the street and, in turn, has asked the Civil Guard’s most effective Administration, a change in legal consideration of theft and that the Subdelegation of the Government of Andalusia grant him, “finally”, the meeting requested more than a month ago.
As has been warned from the agrarian organization, strawberry growers from Huelva are suffering serious economic damage from this situation.
Manuel Piedra, secretary general of UPA Huelva: “now that the price at the origin of the strawberry is acceptable and we do not lose money producing, these hunters arrive and rob us”
Thieves use flashlights at night to illuminate or simply steal in broad daylight. “In a period during which the population of Huelva increases in more than 30,000 people, the Administration does not destine nor a single agent to reinforce the patrols”, Piedra revealed. “This is not seen anywhere else in Spain, where the number of guards increases according to the population and needs at specific times, such as the tourist season or the Paso del Estrecho operation,” he added. Therefore, UPA has requested a greater number of guards so that “the ROCA groups are present and act in the strawberries producing areas “.
In addition to the economic damage caused by the loss of thousands of kilos of strawberry, these criminals have frightened producers because they go in numerous groups “in case they get caught.” This is because if they are discovered by the Civil Guard, what is stolen is divided by the number of people, “so they touch less amount and is considered theft, not robbery” has deciphered Stone. To stop this practice, UPA has asked to change this aspect of the law.
However, despite being large groups “the producers have no choice but to be intimidated and to monitor their crops themselves”, they say in UPA. The agrarian organization has called on these farmers to take precautions and have “direct and constant” contact with law enforcement officials. “We must avoid the direct confrontation in order not to go from victim of robbery to victim of violence,” said Piedra.
In addition, UPA has also again requested the meeting that demanded more than a month and a half ago to the Subdelegation of the Government in Huelva. As criticized this agrarian organization, Maria Asunción Grávalos, appointed a few months ago subdelegada of the Government in Huelva, “seems to find no space for the agricultural sector. She has not had to realize the importance that it has for the territory for which she works”.
UPA has appealed to consumers. They have asked not to buy strawberries in informal stalls on the street, which is where thieves distribute the stolen product
“We want to count on their support, but also to protect them”, said the agrarian organization. Stolen strawberries lose traceability, which could be harmful to public health. “In addition, the buyers of these illegal strawberries also harm the small commerce and the public coffers, being strawberries that remain outside the fiscal system“.
Source: UPA
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