Street Networks and the Spatial Distribution of Crime-Hosting Venues

• In Event: Methodological Advancements in Crime and Place Research

Abstract

Objective: Several recent studies have examined the relationship between the structure of street networks and the spatial distribution of crime. However, these studies have focused almost exclusively on property crimes. This study examines how street configurations are associated with the placement of crime-hosting venues through the case of illicit massage businesses (IMBs), which often host illegal activity alongside legitimate services.
Data and methods: Data include the locations of approximately 400 IMBs in a U.S. city. We perform analysis at street segment level, and calculate network metrics reflecting various notions of centrality. Using multi-level models, we examine IMB locations as a function of centrality measures (level 1) and tract characteristics (level 2).
Findings: We find that the presence of IMBs on street segments is negatively associated with their likely usage, measured using the network metric betweenness. However, we also find that segments close to high-betweenness streets – measured using a novel metric called local betweenness – are more likely to contain IMBs.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that IMBs tend to be located on streets which are not themselves prominent, but which are near those with high usage potential. We discuss the implications of these findings for criminological theory, crime responses, and urban planning.

Authors

• Toby Davies, University College London

• Ieke de Vries, Leiden University