Recommendation paper: Citizen engagement in crime prevention

Citizens who voluntarily and actively collaborate with local governments and institutions to enhance community safety are an invaluable resource. However, sustaining such cooperation in meaningful ways requires managing the volunteers' expectations and ensuring that both volunteers and public officials, such as the police, agree on their respective roles, competencies, and responsibilities. This paper examines the requirements and limitations of cooperation with citizens and provides practical guidelines for effective volunteer engagement in crime prevention activities.