Community Policing and Public Trust in Indonesia: Examining the Role of Police–Community Relations in Crime Prevention

Abstract

Community policing has become an important approach to improving police legitimacy and strengthening cooperation between law enforcement institutions and communities. In Indonesia, the implementation of community-oriented policing takes place within diverse social, cultural, and institutional environments that influence public perceptions of police effectiveness and legitimacy. This study examines the relationship between community policing practices, police–community interaction, and public trust in Indonesia. Using a qualitative research approach, the study analyses institutional policies, community engagement practices, and selected cases of police–community interaction. The analysis focuses on the extent to which participation, responsiveness, transparency, and problem-solving mechanisms contribute to public confidence in policing institutions. The study argues that community policing should not be understood solely as an operational crime-prevention strategy but also as a mechanism for strengthening institutional legitimacy and democratic accountability. Effective community engagement requires sustained communication, local participation, and institutional responsiveness to community concerns. The study contributes to the literature by contextualising community policing within Indonesia's institutional and socio-cultural environment and by highlighting the importance of trust as an outcome of police–community relations. The findings provide implications for developing more participatory and locally responsive policing strategies in Indonesia.