When it comes to community policing, I believe the police force plays an important role. This is based on the implementation of different strategies aimed at achieving effective community policing. Looking more closely at crime, it becomes clear that criminal cases in a given society cannot be solved by a single individual. This calls for help to curb the vice. Not to mention the complexity of the crime, the police should not be left alone to deal with this matter. The community and the police must therefore work together to combat criminal activities. This will require breaking down the crime issue into smaller, more manageable areas. The police then begin to work in these areas. The police therefore work with the community instead of working against the community, to fight crime. This decentralization leads police officers to deal with the social and physical problems of the community. As a result, criminal activities in the region are decreasing. This stimulates an improvement in the quality of life of community members. Furthermore, it strengthens the image of the police as the police end up being effective and reliable agents in fighting crime (Campbell Police Department, 2003). According to Kratcoski and Edelbacher (2008), the definition of community policing has four elements. These elements include: involving community members, being community-centered, focusing on the cause of crime and solving problems, and redefining the goals of policing, the goal main purpose being to improve the quality of life of community members. Policing integrates philosophical and specific approach. Philosophically, it is assumed that community members have an eminent capacity to prevent and curb...... middle of paper ...... additionally have the responsibility to establish the various operating parameters to achieve the objectives of community policing. (Police Executive Research Forum, nd). References Campbell Police Department. (2003). Community policing pages, FAQs. Groenewald, H and Peake, G. (2004). Police reform through community policing: philosophy and guidelines for implementationKratcoski, P and Edelbacher, M. (2008). Juvenile justice in Austria and the United States: similarities and differences. Police Executive Research Forum. (nd).Defining “community” in community policingRakgoadi, P. (1995).Community policing in Gauteng: policy issuesRohe, W, Adams, R and Arcury, T. (2001). Community Policing and Planning: Journal of the American Planning Association Vol.67.No.1Spence, D. (2008).Community Policing Dispatch, The E-Newsletter Of The COPS Office, Volume 1, Issue8.