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Lundrigan et al 2022.pdf (3.12 MB)

Patterns and Predictors of Stranger Rape Locations

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posted on 2023-07-26, 16:05 authored by Samantha Lundrigan, Ruth Weir, Andrew Newton, Kelly Agudelo, Mandeep Dhami
This paper examines the spatial, environmental, and temporal patterns of 10,488 stranger rapes committed over a 15-year period in Greater London, UK. We distinguished between two types of stranger rapes according to perpetrator method of approach, i.e. absent/fleeting interaction with victim on approach (S1) or extended interaction with victim on approach (S2). There were a range of locational settings in which perpetrators both encountered their victims and where the offence took place, and these differed by method of approach. The highest number of S1 offences occurred outdoors, with 74% of approaches and 55% of offences located recorded as outside. For S2 rapes, there was more variety in approach locations with only 32% outside. The level of locational correspondence between approach and offence location was 71% for S1 rapes and 28% for S2 rapes. A series of negative binomial regression models identified variables predictive of stranger rape offence location. There were significant associations with transport connections and the night-time economy for both S1 and S2 rapes. Other significant predictors were deprivation score, the percentage of one person properties, and the percentage of private rented properties in a location. The percentage of green space was a significant predictor for S1 rapes only. The current findings challenge the popular narrative that stranger rape occurs in a specific setting (i.e. outside in a secluded location at night) and have implications for place-based crime prevention policy.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Publication title

European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research

ISSN

1572-9869

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

File version

  • Published version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2022-12-15

Legacy creation date

2022-12-15

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

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