Why is hot spots analysis useful?

            Police officers have long acknowledged the significance of place in crime problems. However, until recently, crime prevention strategists had not systematically analyzed crime hot spots.  Similarly, they have not addressed the underlying conditions that give rise to high activity crime places. However, a Police Foundation report found that 7 in 10 departments in the United States used crime mapping to identify crime hot spots (Weisberg et al., 2001). Recent research suggests that focused police interventions, such as directed patrols and proactive arrests, can produce significant gains in crime prevention at high crime spots.

               Criminology has traditionally focused on two main units of analysis: individuals and communities. They often speculate as to why certain individuals or communities are prone to commit more crime. However, some criminologists have focused their attention to the context of crime and the opportunities presented to the potential offender. For example, Clarke used situational crime prevention to analyze crime in public transport. The implication of this perspective is that high crime areas are an important focus of inquiry.

                  This change has come about in part due to the rise in empirical work on how and why crimes happen. Ronald Clarke’s work on situational crime prevention showed how small changes in situational opportunities could affect crime. For example, a law that mandates riders to wear helmets could reduce motorcycle theft. The potential thieves would find carrying helmets difficult.

                A number of research studies reinforced this view of crime in the late 1980s, and early 1990s. These studies indicated that crime clusters in very small places, or hot spots generate a disproportionate amount of criminal events. In Minneapolis, for instance, Sherman found that only 3% of the city’s addresses accounted for 50% of total calls for service to the police. Similarly, in Jersey City only 4% of streets generated nearly half the city’s narcotic arrests. Many police departments use crime hot spots analysis as a common crime prevention strategy.

                    Hot spots analysis is not only common in the US and many other nations, it utilizes advanced computer software. Unfortunately, India has not yet begun any serious use of this convenient perspective. Of course, many police officers know where the crime hot spots are, but most are unwilling to use any data driven methodology. Ultimately, it is not merely the hotness of spots, but the reasons of the hotness in which we should be interested. Only then, hopefully, we can begin to think of ways to address the underlying causes. Unless we are willing to learn what is good for us and reap the benefits of technology, we will have to make do with personal experiences without the benefit of evidence based policing.