Identifying narratives about security and order in the Hamburg-City area based on Google reviews of public places

• In Event: Crime, Science and Politics WG Panel 9: Law, Security, and the Politics of Crime

Abstract

Every day, a huge amount of text-based data is generated through online comments. These comments offer enormous potential for a wide range of questions.
As part of a broader security analysis in the Hamburg City area around the Hamburg Main Station, we are exploring Google Maps comments in order to analyze the spatial perception of different users of public spaces (e.g. tourists, shoppers, residents). In doing so, we want to work out the different narratives about security and order of different user groups. In addition to the people's statements, additional information such as the star rating of the location and the date of the review are also included in the analysis.
By analyzing Google Maps comments, we open up an additional dimension of spatial evaluation. Therefore, a qualitative content methodology is employed to discover narrative patterns in relation to crime, fear of crime, physical and social disorder and more. Next to insights into the public perception of public spaces, we will also present the potential and challenges of this new methodological approach.

Authors

• Marek Lorenz, Hamburg Police Department

• Kira Diermann, Hamburg Police Department

• Tabitha Vos, Hamburg Police Department