1009CCJ Doing Criminology Application Exercise 4 PDF

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1009CCJ Doing Criminology Application Exercise 4: GIS and Crime Mapping...

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Application Exercise 4: GIS and Crime Mapping

Task 1: Geocoding The number of crime events to be geocoded was: 12 The number of crime events successfully geocoded was: 5 The geocoding hit rate is hit rate is: 41.67% What are the id numbers of the events that were not mapped? 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 Can you guess why the Queensland geocoding engine struggled to locate these events by their description? The Queensland geocoding engine may have struggled to locate these events by their description due to unit numbers not being specified on many of the addresses, incorrect house numbers, as well as some of the streets that were provided were not part of the suburb specified. For example, when locating the following addresses on Google Maps, these are apartment blocks and the unit number has not been given: 34 Farnell Street, 28 Eastleigh Street, 17 Playfield Street, and 28 Kelso Street. One of the addresses (18 Parkha Street) is non-existent (perhaps a misspelling), 0 Farnell Street does not show the actual street number, and 6 Greenbank Street also does not exist, however it does have apartments on this street, but does not show number six.

Task 2: Patterns in Time Firstly, there are two high risk periods of the day. The greatest risk is between 1800 and 2400 (6PM to midnight), however, more specifically within this range, the highest risk is between 2000 and 2100 (8PM to 9PM). These are potentially higher risk times for theft of motor vehicles as in the evenings it is dark which makes it more difficult to see the person committing the theft, as well as people being inside their homes where they are potentially sleeping which means that their vehicles are more likely to be unattended. They could also potentially be out from the home, such as having dinner or seeing a movie, and they have decided to use other transport that isn’t their own vehicle.

The second highest risk period is between 0800 and 1200 (8AM to 12PM), and more specifically within this range, the greatest risk is between 0900 and 1100 (9AM to 11AM). People may be at risk of having their vehicle stolen during the day as they could potentially be leaving their vehicle unattended while they are at work and would be unaware of their vehicle being stolen until they arrive home later in the day.

Task 3: Patterns in Space

The heat map generated displays 11 identifiable hotspots, with two being significantly larger and darker than the others, and most being located near main roads. The two main hotspots are in the middle of Chermside, as well as in the south of Chermside, which is nearby the main Westfield Shopping Centre. The other hotspots are generally scattered around Chermside, with one larger hot spot being in Chermside West, which is nearby a school and two parks. With a combination of there being shopping centres, a hospital, schools, parks, and easy access to public transport in the area, it is easy to see how and why many individuals’ vehicles would be left unattended and therefore easier to be the subject of theft.

Task 4 Recommendations Comments on geocoding: Several issues were identified with the addresses provided, with the initial geocoding hit rate being a low percentage of 41.67%. These issues were related to incorrect street numbers, misspelling of a street name, missing unit numbers, and potentially incorrect suburbs. In order to rectify and avoid these issues, it is vital the police are accurately recording addresses, and ensure that police officers are aware of the importance of having this correct information. This could all be included in thorough training to be provided to police officers who are collecting this information, and they should ensure they are cross checking the validity of the address at the time of receiving information. The paperwork they are filling out while documenting the address could also prompt them for the address to be specific, such as boxes for a unit number, street number, street name, post code, state etc.

Comments on space and time patterns: Based on the hotspots identified (more predominately within the centre of Chermside, Chermside South, and Chermside West), more surveillance cameras should be allocated around residential areas with public parks nearby, such as 7 th Brigade Park, Bradbury Park, and Beneke Street Park. More specifically, it would be beneficial to ensure cameras are placed along the streets where there are more thefts, such as Ballantine Street, Nielson Street, Binkar Street, Yaralla Street, and Buna Street. It would also be beneficial for residents to receive leaflets informing them that they are within a high risk area, so that way they can take their own precautions, such as installing sensor lights and cameras around their home, and also encouraged to set up neighbourhood watch groups.

There should also be a heavier police presence (i.e. patrolling) within the hot spots identified, especially during the high-risk periods (8AM to 12PM and 6PM to midnight). It should also be ensured that there is proper street lighting in the hotspots, so anyone trying to commit theft of a motor vehicle can easily be seen....