What is the difference between community policing and traditional policing?

In community policing, the focus is on the partnership between the police force and the public it serves. With more traditional policing methods, the job of ensuring public safety is viewed as the responsibility of the police alone. In the community policing model, building relationships is paramount.

Building trust is an essential component of community policing so that community members are willing to share information with authorities that could not only aid police in apprehending criminals but also help prevent crimes from occurring. Programs to engage youth and encourage neighbors to look out for one another are often part of the community policing model.