Urban Crime and Ethnicity

Using spatial data analysis techniques, we compare the spatial distribution of crime and the black population density across the London boroughs. We show that the higher is the density of the black population in a given borough, the higher is the crime rate. This effect is still positive but lower for neighboring boroughs and ceases to exist beyond a 40 minute driving distance. Such results are consistent with models of social interactions where relationships are stronger between individuals of the same ethnic group and highly localized.