Urban Crime Mapping: A Review

The imperfection of man is the banes of all criminal activities worldwide. More so, global urbanization and technological advancement seem to catalyze the frequency and complexity of criminal activities generally. Crime in its entire ramification is a critical issue that has gained significant attention in most countries of the world Nigeria inclusive. In view of the alarming rate of crime globally and the GIS utilities, this paper therefore carried out a review of the principles and theories of crime mapping, types of crime mapping and the nexus between poverty and urban crime. The paper further examined the relationship between urban design and spatial dimension of urban crime, and the implication for Urban and Regional Planning professional education as one of the key players in environmental management. It is therefore recommended that the teachings of Urban and Regional Planning in educational institutes should include the key theories within environmental criminology. While national and international conferences and workshops around urban and regional planning should presently revolve around settlement safety and urban governance.

Features of criminological planning

The paper discusses the features of criminological planning. The conceptual apparatus that acts as a tool for criminological planning and crime prevention is clarified. A number of concepts as «criminological planning», «strategic plan», «crime mapping», «individual planning» are characterized. A number of reasons that motivate people to break the law are identified; the most significant sociological theories of crime also are identified. It is emphasized that in connection with urbanization, the features of criminological planning also undergo certain changes and modifications. Innovative methodologies appear with the appropriate set of principles, methods and technologies, which are specially selected to solve a specific criminological problem. By means of a comparative analysis, the most stable differences in the concepts of «criminological planning» and «criminological forecasting» have been identified. The theory of crime, types and stages of criminological planning are considered; the necessary set of methods, techniques, techniques and tactics for the implementation of criminological planning to achieve the goals and objectives on the path to sustainable development of the state. A set of proposals and recommendations for improving criminological planning in the light of current trends has been formulated and substantiated. The main strains of optimizing criminological planning are: the formulation of the system of state anti-criminological educational policy; cooperation with institutions of community support; introduction into practice of foreign experience in conducting strategic sessions; the formation of a creative position, necessary for the implementation of thorough management of anti-criminological programs.

Crime mapping features

In this paper tools, organization and tactics of crime mapping are analyzed. The directions of application of mapping for maintenance of public safety and order, in criminal intelligence process, etc. are outlined. The domestic experience of mapping is briefly analyzed. The main goals that are achieved with the use of mapping are defined. Features of visualization of criminogenic cells are revealed. Pin mapping features (when points which symbolize a certain event are placed on the map on the corresponding coordinates) are outlined. Kernel density mapping is described, which makes it much easier to detect criminogenic foci, as hot-spot maps clearly reflect the concentration of certain events in the region. A method of mapping using proportional symbol mapping is disclosed when the increase in the size of the symbol denoting a point on the map is proportional to the increase in the number of events or other parameters at these coordinates. The building of geographical profiles of criminals is briefly described. The theoretical basis of mapping for the prediction of crimes is outlined. Prediction strategies based on equations and machine calculations and actuarial strategies based on expertise and clinical strategy are analyzed. Considerations are given to the appropriateness of applying appropriate strategies in different countries. The phenomenon of near repeat patterns is studied. Some software solutions for the implementation of the tasks of mapping criminal manifestations and the use of artificial intelligence systems for this purpose are described. Examples are given. It is noted that the use of cartography to prevent and predict crimes in Ukraine is in its infancy. Some solutions are proposed that could improve the situation in the field of crime mapping in Ukraine.