Balance and security: policing strategies for counties with population loss

In global local governance, the problem of local population decline is widespread, and policing faces the unique complexity of intertwined fiscal constraints, operational challenges, and community safety needs. This study adopts a qualitative research approach using NVivo 14, conducting semi-structured interviews with Chinese public security officials. Guided by the principles of grounded theory, it applies a three-stage coding strategy—comprising open coding, axial coding, and selective coding—to analyze the interview data. The findings reveal that county-level policing exhibits distinct dualistic characteristics: it possesses structural advantages (such as low crime rates and technological advancements) while also enduring persistent limitations (such as resource scarcity, insufficient technical skills, and low administrative efficiency). Notably, external management pressures brought by mobile tourists are identified as another governance challenge. Theoretically, this study integrates the comprehensive theoretical framework of rational choice, collaborative governance, and local politics with qualitative research methods, thereby enriching the academic literature in the field of public governance. Practically, it proposes targeted measures for counties facing demographic challenges, including flexible resource allocation, capacity building, and technology adaptation, aiming to explore the global transferability of relevant policies.