A GIS-based Drug Crime Mapping and Hotspot Analysis in Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Drug-related crimes are complicated and are common in many countries. Urban parks are areas where such crimes are likely to occur. Supplying, buying and selling drugs are some of common urban crimes committed in these places. One major step towards dealing with this issue should be identifying geographic location and distribution of drug-related crime. Accordingly, spatial analysis and evaluation of drug crimes in Tehran’s parks is the main purpose of this study. The research involves analysis of data related to 41 parks in Tehran in 2017. The study was conducted using a combination of Geographical Information System (GIS) and Multicriteria Decision Mak-ing Models (MCDM). Statistical tests of medium center, standard deviation oval, and the clus-tering test were used to detect spatial patterns of drug crimes, while ordinary least square re-gression was used for spatial relations modelling. Results of the Promethee model showed that three parks, namely, Sorkheh Hesar, Lavisan and Chitgar had a very unsuitable position. Ac-cording to the results of spatial distribution, crimes related to Cannabis, Crystal and Crack have random patterns, while those related to Opium, Heroin and other drugs are clustered. Results of the hotspot analysis show that Chitgar is considered as being a hotspot for drug crimes. Also, average spatial distribution centers of Heroin, Opium, Cannabis, Crystal and Crack were re-spectively located in the following parks: Razi, Miad, Daneshju, Miad and Park Shahr, whilst other drugs were distributed in Nahjolbalagheh Park. The results of this research show that a combination of geographical information system and multicriteria decision making model can help the authorities detect and then reduce these types of crimes. Methods applied in this study can also be used in other contexts to inform policy making towards urban crime control.

Keywords

• GIS spatial analysis
• Crime analysis
• Drugs mapping
• Urban parks

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