Senator Joel Rayne is calling for a renewed focus on police-community engagement, youth outreach and sport-based initiatives as part of a stronger national response to gun violence.
Speaking during the Senate debate on the Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2026, Senator Rayne said police officers must be visible, accessible and actively engaged with residents well before an emergency arises.
“The police should not be strangers in our communities until an emergency occurs. We should know our police officers, and they should know us. There must be a relationship built on trust, communication and mutual respect,” Senator Rayne stated.
He called for regular police engagement in communities through meetings with residents, school visits, youth outreach programmes and other initiatives that allow officers to interact with citizens outside emergency or enforcement situations.
Rayne, who is also the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, said these efforts could strengthen public confidence, encourage the sharing of credible information and help identify potential problems before they escalate into serious incidents.
He placed particular emphasis on using sport to build relationships between police officers and young people. Recalling a time when officers participated actively in football, cricket and netball, he said community sporting activities created opportunities for positive interaction, familiarity and mutual respect.
Senator Rayne urged the police and sporting organisations to revive and expand sport-based initiatives, including national competitions and activities involving young people and law enforcement officers.
“Sometimes, the best way to build trust is not through a uniform or a police vehicle, but through meaningful interaction. When our young people can play alongside police officers, speak with them and get to know them as individuals, it helps to break down barriers and build relationships that can make a real difference,” he added.
He said sport could promote discipline, teamwork and positive decision-making while providing young people with constructive opportunities and helping officers become more familiar and approachable figures within their communities.
While acknowledging that legislation is necessary to strengthen the country’s response to illegal firearms and gun-related offences, Senator Rayne said lasting progress would also require a preventative approach rooted in sustained police-community contact.
“Public safety cannot be the responsibility of the police alone. Communities must play their part by reporting suspicious activities, sharing credible information and helping to create an environment where criminal activity is not tolerated. But for that cooperation to flourish, people must feel that the police are partners in their communities, not simply a presence they encounter when something goes wrong,” he stated.
Senator Rayne also stressed that community cooperation must be matched by accountability, professionalism and respect for citizens’ rights.
He maintained that addressing gun violence requires a comprehensive national response that combines appropriate laws and effective enforcement with public education, youth outreach and meaningful community involvement.
Senator Rayne concluded that the immediate priority should be to strengthen relationships before crises occur, create positive avenues for youth engagement and ensure that police officers are known and trusted within the communities they serve.
“We must move beyond responding to emergencies. We must rebuild relationships, reconnect through our communities and use every available opportunity to prevent crime before it happens.”
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Senator Joel Rayne: “The Police Should Not Be Strangers Until an Emergency Occurs”.