The phenomenon of crime is deeply embedded in the social and spatial fabric of human societies. Crime is not merely an outcome of individual deviance; it is a spatial, social, and structural feature shaped by a multitude of environmental and socio-economic factors. The growing interest in spatial justice, urban safety, and evidence-based crime prevention underscores the need for an interdisciplinary approach to understanding criminal behaviour. This book, The Geography of Crime: Exploring Spatial Distribution and Environmental Criminology, emerges from that need, offering a comprehensive framework for exploring the spatial dimensions of crime and its relevance to both academic inquiry and practical interventions.
Designed to serve as a vital resource for students, scholars, urban planners, law enforcement professionals, NGOs, and policymakers, this volume blends theoretical insights with methodological tools such as crime mapping, spatial analysis, and Geographic Information System (GIS). Drawing on a wide array of global case studies and with a special focus on the Indian context, it examines how urbanisation, poverty, inequality, and physical design influence crime patterns and public safety.
This book places particular emphasis on justice-oriented spatial planning, encouraging readers to consider how cities can be reimagined through inclusive design, community participation, and strategic intervention. It highlights the significance of identifying crime hotspots, understanding the role of environmental design in crime prevention, and developing localised responses rooted in both data and community realities.
For the academic community, this work provides a solid foundation in crime geography theories such as environmental criminology, routine activity theory, and social disorganisation theory, supported by up-to-date literature and empirical examples. For decision-makers and development stakeholders, it offers actionable knowledge to inform urban governance, safety audits, policy design, and social interventions.
As we confront 21st-century challenges—from cybercrime and environmental offences to gender-based violence and organised crime—this book aims to foster critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and spatially informed policy innovations.
In offering this work, it is our hope that it will not only serve as a scholarly contribution to the field of crime studies but also as a practical guide for building safer, fairer, and more resilient communities across geographic and cultural boundaries.
