Using Community Policing to Counter Violent Extremism: 5 Key Principles for Law Enforcement

Community policing has been a prevailing approach to public safety for the past three decades. When properly implemented, community policing improves civic engagement of local residents, gives them stake in coproducing outcomes with local police, and increases police legitimacy in the eyes of the public. Community policing's broad approach places a greater emphasis on proactive and preventive policing and has been applied to a diverse array of public safety concerns, including child safety, traditional crime, and gangs. The same community policing strategies and principles that have helped improve public safety and reduce crime and social disorder are now being leveraged to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism. This guide discusses five key principles of community policing applied to homeland security concerns and provides practical examples from law enforcement agencies implementing community policing approaches to counter violent extremism.