Measuring the resilience of criminogenic ecosystems to global disruption: A case-study of COVID-19 in China

PLoS One. 2020 Oct 14;15(10):e0240077. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240077. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

This paper uses resilience as a lens through which to analyse disasters and other major threats to patterns of criminal behaviour. A set of indicators and mathematical models are introduced that aim to quantitatively describe changes in crime levels in comparison to what could otherwise be expected, and what might be expected by way of adaptation and subsequent resumption of those patterns. The validity of the proposed resilience assessment tool is demonstrated using commercial theft data from the COVID-19 pandemic period. A 64 per cent reduction in crime was found in the studied city (China) during an 83-day period, before daily crime levels bounced back to higher than expected values. The proposed resilience indicators are recommended as benchmarking instruments for evaluating and comparing the global impact of COVID-19 policies on crime and public safety.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19
  • China
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / psychology*
  • Crime / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / psychology*
  • Resilience, Psychological*
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data

Grants and funding

HB received funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) [EP/P011896/1] url: https://epsrc.ukri.org/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.