ABSTRACT
In this chapter three main themes linking crime and the environment are considered: crime and the weather; crime and design; and geographical profiling. The long held anecdotal belief that the weather, particularly temperature, causes crime is examined drawing on empirical research. The data partially support an association between weather and crime, but the mechanisms that link the two are still unclear. The evidence suggests that where there is an association, the weather may affect the conditions that allow crime, but not cause crime. The second theme of the chapter uses the concepts of defensible space and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to examine how design might facilitate or help prevent crime. It identifies the design elements, such as surveillance opportunity by neighbours or passers-by, that enjoy some empirical support for their role in deterring offenders in particular environments. The third perspective looks at the way in which the environment can be used to help the investigation of crime and to identify potential offenders through geographical profiling. It shows how the spatial behaviour of serial offenders can potentially be used to identify areas in which they might live or work.
