Temple University Department of Criminal Justice The Hotspot Matrix as a framework for the spatio-temporal targeting of crime reduction Jerry Ratcliffe

Temple UniversityDepartment of Criminal Justice

The Hotspot Matrix as a framework for the spatio-temporal targeting of crime reduction

Jerry Ratcliffe

Temple Universitywww.jratcliffe.net

[email protected]


Intelligence-led crime reduction

UK Criminal Intelligence Strategy Group (Working Group 3) said:

“Analysts should not simply provide management with statistics and colourful

charts but a real understanding of criminal activity and the direction in tackling it.”


Four intelligence products

UK National Intelligence Model

StrategicAssessments

TacticalAssessments

TargetProfiles

ProblemProfiles


Four intelligence products

UK National Intelligence Model

Aim: Identify established and emerging crime/incident series and hotspots.

Purpose: Assist investigative needs, hotspot management, targeting, crime reduction and prevention.

StrategicAssessments

TacticalAssessments

TargetProfiles

ProblemProfiles



Need to communicate fairly simple ideas to busy people

Lack of environmental criminology knowledge in practitioner community

Establish a common language for ourselves and the practitioners

Take ‘what works’ further

Process not dependent on particular software


Temporal components

Diffused

0000Time

f

1200 2359


Temporal components

Focused

0000Time

f

1200 2359


Temporal components

0000Time

f

1200 2359

Acute


Spatial components

Dispersed

++ +

+

+

+

+++

+

+

+


Spatial components

Clustered

++

+

+++

+ ++

+

++


Spatial components

Hotpoint

++++++++++++


Spatial components

Hotpoint

+


Hotpoint

Acute


Dispersed

Focused


Dispersed Clustered Hotpoint

Diffused

Focused

Acute

++ +

++

+

+++

+

++

++

++++

+ ++

+

++ +

Housing estate

Hotspot Matrix

Uniform vehicle patrols Foot patrols Plain clothes patrols

Uniform vehicle patrols Foot patrolsSurveillance and plain

clothes foot patrols

Unmarked vehicle patrols

Surveillance and plain clothes patrols

Surveillance and arrest squads


Short term

Hotspot

Matrix


Diffused

Focused

Acute

++ +

++

+

+++

+

++

++

++++

+ ++

+

++ +

Prevention

Detection


Long term

Hotspot

Matrix


Diffused

Focused

Acute

++ +

++

+

+++

+

++

++

++++

+ ++

+

++ +

Prevention

Prevention



Diffused

Focused

Acute

++ +

++

+

+++

+

++

++

++++

+ ++

+

++ +

Housing estate

Hotspot Matrix

Uniform vehicle patrols Foot patrols Plain clothes patrols

Uniform vehicle patrols Foot patrolsSurveillance and plain

clothes foot patrols

Unmarked vehicle patrols

Surveillance and plain clothes patrols

Surveillance and arrest squads



Diffused

Focused

Acute

++ +

++

+

+++

+

++

++

++++

+ ++

+

++ +

Housing estate

Hotspot Matrix

Uniform vehicle patrols, architectural changes

Random breath tests, foot patrols,

architectural changes

Plain clothes patrols, random breath tests,

private security, CCTV

Uniform vehicle and foot patrols, improved

lighting

Vehicle and foot patrols, private

security, improved lighting

Surveillance units, plain clothes foot

patrols

Unmarked vehicle patrols, private

security, improved lighting

Surveillance and plain clothes patrols, CCTV

Surveillance, arrest squads, CCTV,

unmarked police units


Caveats

First step

No definitive rules for classifications

Contents of the matrix are examples only

Could have a more complicated matrix…


Summary

Simple to use and communicate

Not software dependent

Practitioners and academics could fill in what works, and communicate using a common language



Awaiting publication in Police Practice and Research Copies of the paper and slides are at jratcliffe.netClick on Conference notes

Jerry Ratcliffe

Temple University

www.jratcliffe.net

[email protected]

Documents

Temple University Department of Criminal Justice The Hotspot Matrix as a framework for the spatio-temporal targeting of crime reduction Jerry Ratcliffe