TITLE:
Crime Mapping in Nigeria Using GIS
AUTHORS:
Toju Francis Balogun, Henry Okeke, Christain Ifanyin Chukwukere
KEYWORDS:
Crime, Hotspot, Geospatial Data, Database Design, Conceptual Modeling, Logical Design, Physical Design, Entity Relationship, Relationship Enforcement
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geographic Information System,
Vol.6 No.5,
October
6,
2014
ABSTRACT: This paper first examines
crime situation in Benin metropolis using questionnaire to elicit information
from the public and the police. Result shows that crime is on the rise and that
the police are handicapped in managing it because of the obsolete methods and
resources at their disposal. It also reveals that members of the public have no
confidence in the police force as 80% do not report cases for fear of exposure
to the informant to the criminal. In the light of these situations, the second
part of the paper looks at the possibility of utilizing GIS for effective
management of crime in Nigeria. This option was explored by showing the
procedural method of creating 1) digital landuse map showing the crime
locations, 2) crime geo-spatial database, and 3) spatial analysis such as query
and buffering using ILWIS and ArcGIS software and GPS. The result of buffering
analysis shows crime hotspots, areas deficient in security outfit, areas of
overlap and areas requiring constant police patrol. The study proves that GIS
can give a better synoptic perspective to crime study, analysis, mapping,
proactive decision making and prevention of crime. It however suggests that
migrating from traditional method of crime management to GIS demands capacity
building in the area of personnel, laboratory and facilities backed up with
policy statement.