What is a common goal of proactive policing?

The common goal of proactive policing is to deter crime before it occurs. Proactive policing focuses on preventing crime through methods such as community engagement, increased visibility of law enforcement, and strategic deployment of resources in areas prone to criminal activity. By proactively addressing the underlying issues that contribute to crime, law enforcement agencies aim to create safer communities and reduce potential criminal activity before it happens. This approach emphasizes the importance of community relationships and greater awareness of potential risks, allowing police to act before crimes escalate.

The other options, while they can be components of a policing strategy, do not encapsulate the primary intention behind proactive policing. Gathering data for prosecution, encouraging public crime reporting, and increasing the number of arrests are more reactive measures aimed at handling situations after they have occurred, rather than actively preventing them in the first place.