ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to draw together the various ways in which environmental factors are implicated in patterns of crime and to present an overview of major arenas of interest and utility. Proximity is a key factor in a wide range of criminal activity. Its role varies from the simple and direct effect of distance to the complex interactions and mediations implied by social mix. Considerable research effort has been devoted over the years to the issue of the effect of social class on crime. The role of the social environment as a predisposing factor in crime should be integrated with wider value systems. The tangle of relationships between crime and the social environment is most clearly seen in certain types of criminal area considered under the environment as a label. Many crimes are highly localised and victims and offenders tend to come from the same class and racial backgrounds.
