CRI2601
EXAM
PACK 2023
, lOMoARcPSD|24668432
Question 1
A GIS is a computer system that is used to capture, manage, integrate and
manipulate data is very useful in policing to know the areas with high crime
rates. It is used as an effective tool in crime investigation and prevention and
there are ample cases that have demonstrated the value of GIS in solving
crimes. For example, many murder cases were solved by the police tracking
cellphones used by victims. Legal framework should be complied with to
ensure that the use of GPS for surveillance and evidence gathering involves
a legal issue related to protection of privacy.
The technique is to predict an unknown criminal's most probable residence
area by analysing the geographic locations of a linked series of crimes. Its
theoretical foundation is the well-established finding of distance decay
behaviour on a criminal's journey to crime. In other words, an offender
commits most offenses fairly close to home, and the proportion of offenses
committed decreases with increasing distance. In addition, the criminal also
tries to avoid committing crimes too close to home, within a mental ‘buffer
zone’. Geographic profiling is usually applied to the analysis of
series/repeated crimes because data volume is critical for its success. It is
intended to be used in combination with other information and investigative
techniques, to prioritise leads or direct the geographic focus of an
investigation.
GIS helps law enforcement agencies to identify potential suspects, increase
investigators, increase crime prevention officers as well as assist in developing crime
prevention strategies, and may focus on the following aspects:
Identify clusters of events (hotspots)
Crime information systems such as GIS identify areas that contain dense clusters of
events (hotspots). These high concentration areas usually demand special police
attention. For example, GIS allows an analyst to identify all of the areas in a police
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, lOMoARcPSD|24668432
station area where at least five robberies have occurred within a 1 km radius (Osborne
& Wernicke 2003:30). These areas are then outlined on the map. Using GIS to identify
hotspots provides a consistent method to measure concentrations of criminal events
over time. Hotspots of violent crime, robbery, residential burglary, commercial burglary,
car theft, rape, etc. can be calculated every month for each police station area. By so
doing, the police are able to enforce the law.
Compare locations of hotspots across time
Crime hotspots that have been identified over several months can be displayed at the
same time. This allows for the identification of areas with chronic problems and
indicates the direction in which a particular crime may be shifting. These types of maps
can also be used to solicit resources for an area from other public and/or private
agencies.
Compare hotspots of different crime types
Hotspots of different types of offences can be displayed to identify where they overlap.
For instance, residential burglary hotspots can be displayed along with robbery hotspots
to discover where they overlap (Boyd 2001:24). A more detailed analysis of these
intersecting areas can then be performed. All this information assists the police to
enforce the law.
Investigation of serial offences
The home addresses, work addresses and places frequented by victims and suspects
of serial offences can be displayed (Osborne & Wernicke 2003:40). When details of
both suspects and victims are viewed in this manner, intersections between the two can
be seen. The spatial patterns of less serious offences that often lead to more serious
crimes can be examined. This is especially important since serial rapists and
paedophiles often begin their criminal careers by committing other offences such as
peeping tom incidents, indecent exposure, or residential burglaries.
Predict behaviour
Based on the crime history, models can be developed to predict the behaviour of
criminals. Using these models, the probable location of an offender’s home can be
Page | 2
Downloaded by Jack martinez ()
EXAM
PACK 2023
, lOMoARcPSD|24668432
Question 1
A GIS is a computer system that is used to capture, manage, integrate and
manipulate data is very useful in policing to know the areas with high crime
rates. It is used as an effective tool in crime investigation and prevention and
there are ample cases that have demonstrated the value of GIS in solving
crimes. For example, many murder cases were solved by the police tracking
cellphones used by victims. Legal framework should be complied with to
ensure that the use of GPS for surveillance and evidence gathering involves
a legal issue related to protection of privacy.
The technique is to predict an unknown criminal's most probable residence
area by analysing the geographic locations of a linked series of crimes. Its
theoretical foundation is the well-established finding of distance decay
behaviour on a criminal's journey to crime. In other words, an offender
commits most offenses fairly close to home, and the proportion of offenses
committed decreases with increasing distance. In addition, the criminal also
tries to avoid committing crimes too close to home, within a mental ‘buffer
zone’. Geographic profiling is usually applied to the analysis of
series/repeated crimes because data volume is critical for its success. It is
intended to be used in combination with other information and investigative
techniques, to prioritise leads or direct the geographic focus of an
investigation.
GIS helps law enforcement agencies to identify potential suspects, increase
investigators, increase crime prevention officers as well as assist in developing crime
prevention strategies, and may focus on the following aspects:
Identify clusters of events (hotspots)
Crime information systems such as GIS identify areas that contain dense clusters of
events (hotspots). These high concentration areas usually demand special police
attention. For example, GIS allows an analyst to identify all of the areas in a police
Page | 1
Downloaded by Jack martinez ()
, lOMoARcPSD|24668432
station area where at least five robberies have occurred within a 1 km radius (Osborne
& Wernicke 2003:30). These areas are then outlined on the map. Using GIS to identify
hotspots provides a consistent method to measure concentrations of criminal events
over time. Hotspots of violent crime, robbery, residential burglary, commercial burglary,
car theft, rape, etc. can be calculated every month for each police station area. By so
doing, the police are able to enforce the law.
Compare locations of hotspots across time
Crime hotspots that have been identified over several months can be displayed at the
same time. This allows for the identification of areas with chronic problems and
indicates the direction in which a particular crime may be shifting. These types of maps
can also be used to solicit resources for an area from other public and/or private
agencies.
Compare hotspots of different crime types
Hotspots of different types of offences can be displayed to identify where they overlap.
For instance, residential burglary hotspots can be displayed along with robbery hotspots
to discover where they overlap (Boyd 2001:24). A more detailed analysis of these
intersecting areas can then be performed. All this information assists the police to
enforce the law.
Investigation of serial offences
The home addresses, work addresses and places frequented by victims and suspects
of serial offences can be displayed (Osborne & Wernicke 2003:40). When details of
both suspects and victims are viewed in this manner, intersections between the two can
be seen. The spatial patterns of less serious offences that often lead to more serious
crimes can be examined. This is especially important since serial rapists and
paedophiles often begin their criminal careers by committing other offences such as
peeping tom incidents, indecent exposure, or residential burglaries.
Predict behaviour
Based on the crime history, models can be developed to predict the behaviour of
criminals. Using these models, the probable location of an offender’s home can be
Page | 2
Downloaded by Jack martinez ()
