Types of Crime Analysis

There are three main types of analysis that should be carried out for a crime audit:

Crime pattern analysis "attempts to form a picture of the nature and scale of crime in a particular area. The size of the area, or the type and number of crimes examined, may vary. Descriptive, or inferential statistics are used for analysis, which may be supplemented by qualitative material".

General profile analysis "attempts to identify typical characteristics of perpetrators of certain crimes. . . . General profile analyses may focus not only on the offender, but also on the likely victim of crime".

Crime control methods analysis "aims to learn from the experience gained with techniques and tactics used [previously] . . . In other words, it involves the evaluation of methods and techniques introduced with the aim of establishing their future usefulness".

Local crime analysis’ Crime Detection and Prevention Series Paper 65 London: Home Office 1995

Full report: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/fcdps65.pdf

Summary: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/cdp65bf.pdf

These types of analysis can be undertaken in two stages:

• Stage 1 - The identification of patterns, clusters, trends and the identification of the immediate factors that have produced them

• Stage 2 - Placing identified patterns, clusters, and trends into a wider context that takes account of criminological, social, demographic and economic factors that describe the context and causes of identified crime patterns.

Stage One

The analysis will focus on the more immediate factors that have produced particular patterns, clusters and trends. One approach is to use the Problem Analysis Triangle. This approach to problem analysis draws upon Routine Activities theory, which proposes that a crime occur when three elements are present:

• A suitable target

• A motivated offender

• The absence of a capable guardian to protect the victim to intimate handler to inhibit the offender

The Problem Analysis Triangle encourages analysts to focus on three constituent elements:

• Features of the location

• Features of the victim

• Features of the offender

Tools to undertake this Stage One analysis include the following (each described in detail later in this chapter):

• Hotspotting

• Micro-spatial analysis

• Temporal analysis

• Features of the victim

• Features of the offender

Stage Two

Placing identified patterns, clusters and trends into a wider context that takes account of criminological, social, demographic and economic factors that describe the context and causes of identified crime patterns. Here the focus moves to the context and causes of identified crime patterns. This guidance will cover:

• An introduction to context and causes

• The 'criminologies of everyday life'

• Social and community explanations of crime

The audit process for Knowsley included:

• Use of GIS to map crime data

• Repeat Victimisation hotspots were mapped out

• Trends in crime levels were explored

• Mapping of data was done by residential estates rather than wards or police data. This enabled local communities to relate the statistics to recognisable areas.

• This data was used for extensive community consultation:

• Theme rather than departmental responsibility clustered the data gained from the audit.

• Cross cutting issues were identified.

• Cross cutting issues were identified.

• Publication of the audit was undertaken with sensitivity, avoiding comparison between Merseyside boroughs and highlighting positive action in response to issues.