Two primary approaches to promoting community safety include Situational crime prevention and Crime Prevention through Social Development (CPSD).

Situational Crime Prevention is based on the theory that persons are rational decision makers and that decisions to commit crime are based on risk and expected profit. This approach focuses on reducing the opportunity for crime to occur, increasing the risk of detection, and reducing the rewards resulting from a criminal act. Commonly, target hardening and opportunity reduction tactics, Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, as well as general education and awareness are used to enhance safety and security for persons and their property.

Crime Prevention through Social Development focuses on addressing the social and economic factors that may place individuals at risk to commit crime or be victimized. Risk factors and root causes of crime include, but are not limited to:

• child abuse and neglect
• family violence and bullying
• school difficulties
• illiteracy
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
• substance abuse
• lack of employment opportunities

CPSD approaches address these risk factors and promote protective factors such as school success and connectedness, parenting skills, social support mechanisms, and positive self-esteem to foster pro-social behaviour.