CRIME MAPPING IN GIS

Abstract

The arrival of Information Technology has revolutionised the storage of crime statistics, their display in a visually striking format and finally their analysis for intelligent action by law enforcement agencies. It has added a new dimension to investigation. Mapping, however, requires not only computerised statistics. It presupposes the availability of digital base-maps onto which computers can plot data. One strong argument in favor of crime mapping is that it meshes with the democratic requirements of transparency and accountability. Police performance is quite easily assessed with the help of maps. Where there is a repeated spurt in crime, the local police are obliged to answer quite a few questions, including whether any new strategy has been drawn up or not. Many scholars believe strongly that there should be free access to crime maps for the community and to individual citizens. What crime mapping attempts to do is to bring on record with visual effect all the crime that has been reported to the police in a particular geographical area, be it the whole country or a small locality such as an inconsequential street in an urban or rural segment. The objective is to highlight crime-prone areas ("hotspots") that call for extra attention and possibly deployment of more personnel.