What is a limitation of the incident-driven model of policing?

The incident-driven model of policing is characterized by a focus on responding to specific incidents rather than actively preventing crime before it occurs. This approach typically emphasizes reactive measures, meaning that police respond to calls for service or incidents after they have already happened, rather than engaging in proactive strategies that aim to prevent crime in the first place.

In this context, the limitation of focusing solely on reactive measures is that it may not address underlying issues that contribute to crime in a community. Preventative approaches, which could include community engagement, crime prevention programs, and proactive patrols, have shown to be effective in reducing crime rates over time by addressing root causes rather than just responding to incidents. Consequently, while the incident-driven model plays a critical role in law enforcement, its primary limitation lies in its reactive nature, which can lead to missed opportunities for crime prevention and community safety enhancement.