What does "community policing" primarily aim to do?

Community policing primarily aims to foster trust and collaboration between police and community members. This approach emphasizes building strong relationships with the community, promoting active engagement, and encouraging collaborative problem-solving to address safety concerns. The foundational idea is that by working together, law enforcement and community residents can identify issues and create strategies to improve public safety.

This method moves beyond traditional models of policing that focus solely on responding to crime and enforcing the law. Instead, community policing seeks to involve all community stakeholders in discussing topics important to community welfare, leading to a sense of ownership and responsibility among residents. As such, it encourages police officers to become more approachable and involved in community events, contributing to positive interactions and relationships.

While increasing police visibility may be one tactic employed in community policing, it is not the primary aim. Gathering intelligence on criminal behavior and focusing solely on major crimes are also not aligned with the core philosophy of community policing, which prioritizes a holistic and participatory approach to crime prevention and community well-being.