Community-based policing or fully defunded police with social services?

Community-based policing and full defunding of the police with replacement by social services represent two distinct frameworks for public safety reform, each with its own historical and conceptual foundations. Community-based policing is a model that emerged in the late 20th century as a response to rising tensions between law enforcement and marginalized communities, particularly in the U.S. and U.K. It emphasizes partnership between police and residents, proactive problem-solving, and increased officer visibility within neighborhoods. Core elements include foot patrols, local engagement initiatives, and collaborative crime prevention strategies. The goal is to build trust, improve accountability, and make policing more responsive to local concerns rather than relying solely on reactive enforcement. Defunding the police, in contrast, refers to the reallocation of funding away from police departments toward alternative social services such as mental health care, housing assistance, education, and violence prevention programs. In its most radical form, this movement calls for the abolition of traditional police forces and their replacement with non-carceral, community-led systems of safety and support. This concept gained international attention following the 2020 protests against police violence, especially in the U.S., but draws from earlier abolitionist thought and grassroots organizing.