Crime mobility: Spatial modelling of routine activities of arrestees and substance abusers in South Africa

Author: Weir-Smith, G.

Source: GeoJournal, Volume 59, Number 3, January 2004 , pp. 209-215(7)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Routine activity theory proposes that a crime will take place within a criminal's area of social interaction. This space is delimited by his/her workplace, residence and/or place of recreation. This theory, however, has not been tested to include substance use, especially in the South African context. Therefore, where such substances are obtained and used the location of subsequent criminal activities needs to be incorporated in this theory. Given this context, the paper tests the hypothesis that as drug users expand their activity sphere they also expand their crime space. The analysis is based upon an HSRC national survey of arrestees in which data on their place of work, residence, leisure and drug obtaining were collected. These data were linked by GIS and analysed to establish relationships between the social interaction sphere and drug obtaining of the respondents. This expected expanded behaviour is analysed spatially and used to identify hot spots and high priority areas for police intervention. These results assist in making predictions about places where substances can be expected to be obtained.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:GEJO.0000026690.20126.ab

Affiliations: 1: Email: gweir-smith@hsrc.ac.za

Publication date: 2004-01-01