Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime. It is a strategy of policing that focuses on developing relationships with community members, and it is highly personal, where an officer patrols the same area for an extended time and develops a partnership with citizens to collaboratively identify and solve problems. Community policing is related to problem-oriented policing and intelligence-led policing, and it is contrasted with reactive policing strategies that were predominant in the late 20th century.

Community policing involves three key components:

• Developing community partnerships: This involves building relationships with community members, including residents, businesses, and community organizations, to identify and solve problems together.

• Engaging in problem-solving: This involves using data and analysis to identify and address the underlying causes of public safety issues, rather than just responding to incidents after they occur.

• Implementing community-oriented policing strategies: This involves aligning organizational management, structure, personnel, and information systems to support community partnerships and proactive problem-solving efforts.

Community policing emphasizes changes in organizational structures to institutionalize its adoption and infuse it throughout the entire department, including the way it is managed and organized, its personnel, and its technology. It encourages the application of modern management practices to increase efficiency and effectiveness. Community policing affects the nature and development of department policies and procedures to ensure that community policing principles and practices have an effect on activities on the street.

In summary, community policing is a law enforcement strategy that involves building relationships with community members, engaging in problem-solving, and implementing community-oriented policing strategies to proactively address public safety issues.