Journal of Environmental Studies

Journal of Environmental Studies

Geographical Environment and Crime: Spatial Analysis and Identification of Environmental–Spatial Factors Influencing Crime Occurrence in the Border Province of West Azerbaijan

Document Type : Research Paper

Author
Department of Geography and Urban Planing, Islamic Azad University- Science and research Branch
Abstract
Objective: The environmental and spatial characteristics of settlements and their role in shaping social security highlight the importance of analyzing the nexus between crime and geography. Accordingly, this research aims to analyze crime spatially in West Azerbaijan Province by identifying spatial distribution patterns and examining the relationship between crime rates and various environmental and spatial variables. By modeling these components, this study seeks to understand the environmental requirements affecting security, thereby providing a scientific basis for developing preventive approaches and the spatial organization of crime-prone environments.
Method: Adopting a descriptive-analytical and correlational approach, this research utilizes both documentary and field-based data, incorporating crime statistics for the year 2023 obtained from the Statistical Center of Iran. The study employs correlation coefficient tests in SPSS to assess associations between crime rates and geographical indicators. Furthermore, spatial distribution patterns were analyzed using inverse distance weighting (IDW), while the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model was implemented in ArcGIS to evaluate the spatial heterogeneity of the relationships.
Results: The findings showed that counties with higher rates of crime and violence were primarily concentrated in the central areas of the province, whereas peripheral and border areas exhibited significantly lower crime rates. Factors such as distance from the border, border length, precipitation, vegetation density, and industrialization are significant determinants of the spatial patterning of crime. Increased precipitation and vegetation cover appear to exert a mitigating effect on crime rates, while industrialization and distance from borders have a role in the increase in crime. Supplementary analysis using the OLS model indicates that the variables account for approximately 62% of the variance in crime rates (Adjusted R2=0.45). This demonstrates that the model possesses sufficient explanatory capacity to capture the spatial relationships within the study area. The model findings indicate that, significantly, industrialization, alongside border length, serves as a key driver and a contextualizing framework that facilitates changes in crime rates.
Conclusions: The study demonstrates that environmental and spatial factors are decisive in shaping the spatial distribution of crime, a phenomenon that can be interpreted through the lens of socio-ecological systems. Border regions exhibit lower crime rates, likely due to distinct security measures and economic dynamics, whereas central, industrial areas experience higher crime levels. Furthermore, environmental variables—specifically precipitation, vegetation, and environmental quality—contribute to a protective effect by enhancing social well-being and livability. Consequently, policy interventions should prioritize the development of sustainable industrial management strategies that integrate social and environmental considerations, alongside a nuanced understanding of the dynamics inherent in border regions.
Keywords
Subjects

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