1|Page
POL3701 Assignment 2 Semester 1 2026 (Answer Guide) 279370 -
DUE 7 April 2026
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2026
Contents
QUESTION 1.1 ................................................................................................................................... 3
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Information Provided by Geographic Information System (GIS) ........................................ 3
2.1 Spatial Location of Crime Incidents ..................................................................................... 3
2.2 Crime Distribution Patterns .................................................................................................... 4
2.3 Temporal-Spatial Analysis ...................................................................................................... 4
2.4 Environmental and Infrastructure Factors ......................................................................... 4
2.5 Resource Allocation and Deployment ................................................................................. 5
3. Information Provided by Crime Pattern Analysis (CPA) ....................................................... 5
3.1 Identification of Crime Series ................................................................................................. 6
3.2 Modus Operandi (MO) Analysis ............................................................................................. 6
3.3 Victim and Target Analysis ..................................................................................................... 6
3.4 Offender Behavioural Patterns .............................................................................................. 7
3.5 Crime Trend Analysis ............................................................................................................... 7
3.6 Linkage Analysis Between Crimes ....................................................................................... 7
4. Distinction Between GIS and CPA Information ....................................................................... 7
5. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 8
QUESTION 1.2 ....................................................................................................................................... 8
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 8
2. The Importance of Problem-Solving Policing .......................................................................... 9
2.1 Moves from Reactive to Proactive Policing ....................................................................... 9
2.2 Focuses on Root Causes of Crime ....................................................................................... 9
2.3 Encourages Evidence-Based Decision-Making ................................................................ 9
2.4 Enhances Community Policing and Partnerships .......................................................... 10
2.5 Improves Accountability and Performance Evaluation................................................. 10
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2.6 Reduces Workload in the Long Term ................................................................................ 10
3. Prerequisites for Implementing a Problem-Solving Police Strategy ............................... 11
Table: Prerequisites for Problem-Solving Policing and Their Relevance ....................... 11
4. Critical Evaluation ......................................................................................................................... 12
5. Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 12
QUESTION 1.3........................................................................................................................... 13
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 13
2. Step 1: Identification of Crime Threats.............................................................................. 13
3. Step 2: Collection and Collation of Information ............................................................... 14
4. Step 3: Analysis and Interpretation of the Threat ............................................................ 14
5. Step 4: Prioritisation and Strategic Planning ................................................................... 15
6. Step 5: Monitoring, Evaluation and Review ...................................................................... 16
7. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 16
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................. 17
, 3|Page
QUESTION 1.1
Outline the information that Geographic Information System (GIS) documents can
provide and the information that Crime Pattern Analysis (CPA) provides on each
type of crime (20)
1. Introduction
Modern policing increasingly relies on analytical tools to understand and combat crime
effectively. Two of the most important tools used in contemporary crime analysis are the
Geographic Information System (GIS) and Crime Pattern Analysis (CPA). GIS
focuses primarily on the spatial dimension of crime, while CPA focuses on identifying
recurring patterns and behavioural trends in criminal activities. Together, these tools
support intelligence-led policing and evidence-based decision-making within the South
African policing context.
2. Information Provided by Geographic Information System (GIS)
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based system used to collect,
store, analyse and display geographically referenced information (Ratcliffe, 2010). In
policing, GIS is used to map and visualise crime incidents spatially.
The following are key types of information that GIS documents can provide:
2.1 Spatial Location of Crime Incidents
GIS provides precise geographical coordinates (latitude and longitude) of crime scenes.
This enables police officials to:
Identify where crimes are concentrated.
Detect “hotspots” or high-crime areas.
Compare crime levels across different police precincts or sectors.
POL3701 Assignment 2 Semester 1 2026 (Answer Guide) 279370 -
DUE 7 April 2026
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2026
Contents
QUESTION 1.1 ................................................................................................................................... 3
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Information Provided by Geographic Information System (GIS) ........................................ 3
2.1 Spatial Location of Crime Incidents ..................................................................................... 3
2.2 Crime Distribution Patterns .................................................................................................... 4
2.3 Temporal-Spatial Analysis ...................................................................................................... 4
2.4 Environmental and Infrastructure Factors ......................................................................... 4
2.5 Resource Allocation and Deployment ................................................................................. 5
3. Information Provided by Crime Pattern Analysis (CPA) ....................................................... 5
3.1 Identification of Crime Series ................................................................................................. 6
3.2 Modus Operandi (MO) Analysis ............................................................................................. 6
3.3 Victim and Target Analysis ..................................................................................................... 6
3.4 Offender Behavioural Patterns .............................................................................................. 7
3.5 Crime Trend Analysis ............................................................................................................... 7
3.6 Linkage Analysis Between Crimes ....................................................................................... 7
4. Distinction Between GIS and CPA Information ....................................................................... 7
5. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 8
QUESTION 1.2 ....................................................................................................................................... 8
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 8
2. The Importance of Problem-Solving Policing .......................................................................... 9
2.1 Moves from Reactive to Proactive Policing ....................................................................... 9
2.2 Focuses on Root Causes of Crime ....................................................................................... 9
2.3 Encourages Evidence-Based Decision-Making ................................................................ 9
2.4 Enhances Community Policing and Partnerships .......................................................... 10
2.5 Improves Accountability and Performance Evaluation................................................. 10
,2|Page
2.6 Reduces Workload in the Long Term ................................................................................ 10
3. Prerequisites for Implementing a Problem-Solving Police Strategy ............................... 11
Table: Prerequisites for Problem-Solving Policing and Their Relevance ....................... 11
4. Critical Evaluation ......................................................................................................................... 12
5. Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 12
QUESTION 1.3........................................................................................................................... 13
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 13
2. Step 1: Identification of Crime Threats.............................................................................. 13
3. Step 2: Collection and Collation of Information ............................................................... 14
4. Step 3: Analysis and Interpretation of the Threat ............................................................ 14
5. Step 4: Prioritisation and Strategic Planning ................................................................... 15
6. Step 5: Monitoring, Evaluation and Review ...................................................................... 16
7. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 16
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................. 17
, 3|Page
QUESTION 1.1
Outline the information that Geographic Information System (GIS) documents can
provide and the information that Crime Pattern Analysis (CPA) provides on each
type of crime (20)
1. Introduction
Modern policing increasingly relies on analytical tools to understand and combat crime
effectively. Two of the most important tools used in contemporary crime analysis are the
Geographic Information System (GIS) and Crime Pattern Analysis (CPA). GIS
focuses primarily on the spatial dimension of crime, while CPA focuses on identifying
recurring patterns and behavioural trends in criminal activities. Together, these tools
support intelligence-led policing and evidence-based decision-making within the South
African policing context.
2. Information Provided by Geographic Information System (GIS)
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based system used to collect,
store, analyse and display geographically referenced information (Ratcliffe, 2010). In
policing, GIS is used to map and visualise crime incidents spatially.
The following are key types of information that GIS documents can provide:
2.1 Spatial Location of Crime Incidents
GIS provides precise geographical coordinates (latitude and longitude) of crime scenes.
This enables police officials to:
Identify where crimes are concentrated.
Detect “hotspots” or high-crime areas.
Compare crime levels across different police precincts or sectors.
