Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Crime Mapping and Spatial Analysis

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Crime Prevention in the 21st Century

Abstract

Hotspots policing, place-based policing and predictive policing are members of a family approaches that has captured the policing research zeitgeist. What they have in common is they describe a crime prevention process that starts with the identification of spatial concentrations of crime. The current focus and interest in place-based approaches to prevention can be directly traced back to the seminal Sherman, Gartin, and Buerger (1989) hotspots study of Cincinatti. They found that a mere 3 % of locations accounted for half of the city’s calls for service, and that even areas considered high in crime actually experience substantial clustering (i.e. many locations in the worst neighbourhoods had no crime). It is ironic that one of the first criminological studies was spatial in nature, Quetelet’s moral statistics (Beirne, 1987), and yet this approach fell out of favour for most of the twentieth century. This chapter outlines the modern “criminology of place" inspired by Sherman and its utility for prevention.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    In other words, increases in crimes could be the result of more offenders or increasing motivation (of a fixed number of offenders) or both. Yet, routine activity theory implies that offender prevalence and propensity can remain fixed and crime can increase if the offender-victim convergence rate is increased.

References

  • Andresen, M. A. (2011). The ambient population and crime analysis. The Professional Geographer, 63(2), 193–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andresen, M. A., & Jenion, G. W. (2010). Ambient populations and the calculation of crime rates and risk. Security Journal, 23(2), 114–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beirne, P. (1987). Adolphe quetelet and the origins of positivist criminology. American Journal of Sociology, 92(5), 1140–1169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brantingham, P. J., & Brantingham, P. L. (1981). Notes on the geometry of crime. In P. J. Brantingham & P. L. Brantingham (Eds.), Environmental criminology (pp. 27–54). London, UK: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brantingham, P. J., & Faust, F. L. (1976). A conceptual model of crime prevention. Crime & Delinquency, 22(3), 284–296. doi:10.1177/001112877602200302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brantingham, P. L., & Brantingham, P. J. (1995). Criminality of place: Crime generators and crime attractors. European Journal of Criminal Policy and Research, 3(3), 5–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brantingham, P. L., & Brantingham, P. J. (1999). A theoretical model of crime hot spot generation. Studies on Crime and Crime Prevention, 8, 7–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceccato, V., & Lukyte, N. (2011). Safety and sustainability in a city in transition: The case of Vilnius, Lithuania. Cities, 28(1), 83–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clare, J., Fernandez, J., & Morgan, F. (2009). Formal evaluation of the impact of barriers and connectors on residential burglars’ macro-level offending location choices. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 42(2), 139–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. V. (1983). Situational crime prevention: Its theoretical basis and practical scope. In N. Morris & M. Tonry (Eds.), Crime and justice: A review of research (Vol. 4, pp. 225–256). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. V. (1995). Situational crime prevention. In M. Tonry & D. P. Farrington (Eds.), Crime and justice: A review of research (Vol. 19, pp. 91–150). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. V. (2012). Opportunity makes the thief really? And so what? Crime Science, 1, 3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. V. G. (2008). Situational crime prevention. In R. Wortley & L. Mazerolle (Eds.), Environmental criminology and crime analysis (pp. 178–194). Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. V. G., & Goldstein, H. (2003). Thefts from cars in centre-city parking facilities: A case study in implementing problem-oriented policing. In J. Knutsson (Ed.), Problem-oriented policing: From innovation to mainstream (Vol. 15, pp. 257–298). Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, L. E., & Felson, M. (1979). Social change and crime rate trends: A routine activity approach. American Sociological Review, 44(4), 588–608.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornish, D. B., & Clarke, R. V. (2008). The rational choice perspective. In R. Wortley & L. Mazerolle (Eds.), Environmental criminology and crime analysis (pp. 21–47). Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornish, D. B., & Clarke, R. V. G. (1986). The reasoning criminal: Rational choice perspectives on offending. New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Eck, J. E. (1997). What do those dots mean? Mapping theories with data. In D. L. Weisburd & T. McEwen (Eds.), Crime mapping and crime prevention (Vol. 8, pp. 377–406). Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eck, J. E. (2002). Assessing responses to problems: An introductory guide for police problem-solvers. Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekblom, P. (1998). Getting the best out of crime analysis. London, UK: Home Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, G., Tilley, N., Tseloni, A., & Mailley, J. (2011). The crime drop and the security hypothesis. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 48(2), 147–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Felson, M. (2008). Routine activity approach. In R. Wortley & L. Mazerolle (Eds.), Environmental criminology and crime analysis (pp. 70–77). Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fielding, M., & Jones, V. (2012). ‘Disrupting The Optimal Forager’: Predictive risk mapping and domestic burglary reduction in Trafford, Greater Manchester. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 14(1), 30–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitterer, J., Nelson, T., & Nathoo, F. (2014). Predictive crime mapping. Police practice and research: An international journal, 16, 121–135. doi:10.1080/15614263.2014.972618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, H. (1979). Improving policing: A problem-oriented approach. Crime and Delinquency, 25(2), 236–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, H. (1990). Problem-oriented policing. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, H. (2003). On further developing problem-oriented policing: The most critical need, the major impediments and a proposal. In J. Knutsson (Ed.), Problem-oriented policing: From innovation to mainstream (Vol. 15, pp. 13–48). Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant, E. (2012). The Promise of Big Data. The promise of big data, pp. 15–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurland, J., Johnson, S. D., & Tilley, N. (2014). Offenses around stadiums: A natural experiment on crime attraction and generation. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 51(1), 5–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manyika, J., Chui, M., Brown, B., Bughin, J., Dobbs, R., Roxburgh, C., et al. (2011). Big data: The next frontier for innovation, competition and productivity. McKinsey Global Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazerolle, L., Soole, D., & Rombouts, S. (2007). Drug law enforcement: A review of the evaluation literature. Police Quarterly, 10(2), 115–153. doi:10.1177/1098611106287776.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDowall, D., Loftin, C., & Pate, M. (2011). Seasonal cycles in crime, and their variability. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 28(3), 389–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nix, J. (2015). Predictive policing. In R. G. Dunham & G. P. Alpert (Eds.), Critical issues in policing: Contemporary readings (7th ed., pp. 275–287). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Openshaw, S. (1983). The modifiable areal unit problem. Norwich, UK: Geo Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratcliffe, J. H. (2006). A temporal constraint theory to explain opportunity-based spatial offending patterns. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 43(3), 261–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ratcliffe, J. H. (2008a). Intelligence-led policing. Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratcliffe, J. H. (2008b). Knowledge management challenges in the development of intelligence-led policing. In T. Williamson (Ed.), The handbook of knowledge-based policing: Current conceptions and future directions (pp. 205–220). Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rengert, G. F. (1997). Auto theft in central Philadelphia. In R. Homel (Ed.), Policing for prevention: Reducing crime, public intoxication and injury (pp. 199–220). Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rengert, G. F., & Wasilchick, J. (1990). Space, time and crime: Ethnographic insights into residential burglary. Unpublished report to the National Institute of Justice. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, M. S., Eck, J. E., Knutsson, J., & Goldstein, H. (2008). Problem-oriented policing and environmental criminology. In R. Wortley & L. Mazerolle (Eds.), Environmental criminology and crime analysis (pp. 221–246). Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, L. W., Gartin, P., & Buerger, M. (1989). Hot spots of predatory crime: Routine activities and the criminology of place. Criminology, 27(1), 27–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, L. W., Gottfredson, D., MacKenzie, D., Eck, J. E., Reuter, P., & Bushway, S. (1997). Preventing crime: What works, what doesn’t, what’s promising. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorg, E. T., Haberman, C. P., Ratcliffe, J. H., & Groff, E. R. (2013). Foot patrol in violent crime hot spots: The longitudinal impact of deterrence and posttreatment effects of displacement. Criminology, 51(1), 65–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sorg, E. T., Wood, J. D., Groff, E. R., & Ratcliffe, J. H. (2014). Boundary adherence during place-based policing evaluations: A research note. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 0022427814523789.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spelman, W., & Eck, J. E. (1989). Sitting ducks, ravenous wolves and helping hands: New approaches to urban policing. Public Affairs Comment, 35(2).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanton, J. (2012). An introduction to data science. New York, NY: Syracuse University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Telep, C. W., & Weisburd, D. (2012). What is known about the effectiveness of police practices in reducing crime and disorder? Police Quarterly, 15(4), 331–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tobler, W. (1987). Experiments in migration mapping by computer. Cartography and Geographic Information Science, 14(2), 155–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Townsley, M. (2013). Making crime mapping more inferential. In: D. Weisburd & G. J. N. Bruinsma (Eds.), Encyclopeadia of criminology and criminal justice (p. (Accepted 1 Nov, 2012)). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Townsley, M., & Sidebottom, A. (2010). All offenders are equal, but some are more equal than others: Variation in journeys to crime between offenders. Criminology, 48(3), 210–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Townsley, M., Mann, M., & Garrett, K. (2011). The missing link of crime analysis: A systematic approach to testing competing hypotheses. Policing, 5(2), 158–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyler, T. R. (1990). Why people obey the law: Procedural justice, legitimacy, and compliance. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandeviver, C., Van Daele, S., & Vander Beken, T. (2014). What makes long crime trips worth undertaking? Balancing costs and benefits in burglars’ journey to crime. British Journal of Criminology, azu078.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisburd, D., Telep, C. W., Braga, A. A., & Groff, E. R. (2010). The importance of place in policing: Empirical evidence and policy recommendations. Brottsförebyggande rådet (BRÅ)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisel, D. L. (2003). The sequence of analysis in solving problems. In J. Knutsson (Ed.), Problem oriented policing: From innovation to mainstream (Vol. 15, pp. 115–146). Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wortley, R., & Mazerolle, L. (Eds.). (2008). Environmental criminology and crime analysis. Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zipf, G. K. (1965). Human behavior and the principle of least effort: an introduction to human ecology. New York: Hafner.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia

    Michael Townsley

Authors
  1. Michael Townsley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Townsley .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Benoit LeClerc

  2. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore-Transcrime, Milano, Italy

    Ernesto U. Savona

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Townsley, M. (2017). Crime Mapping and Spatial Analysis. In: LeClerc, B., Savona, E. (eds) Crime Prevention in the 21st Century. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27793-6_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27793-6_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27791-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27793-6

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation