Exploring links between crime and disadvantage in north-west England: an analysis using geographical information systems

This paper reports some of the findings from a two-year study into crime and disadvantage on Merseyside in north-west England. Particular attention is paid to how a GIS has been used in conjunction with crime pattern analysis software to explore relations between crime and the distribution of different types of disadvantaged, middle income and affluent residential neighbourhood. The GIS has also been used to examine crime incidents in relation to the distribution of residential properties, community facilities, administrative boundaries and the street network. Discussion is focused on the utility of combining disaggregate information with aggregate statistics in crime pattern analysis.