Crime Maps and Spatial Analysis of Environmental Crime: Mexico 2006-2018

Abstract

Among the various public security problems in Mexico, environmental crime has occupied a peripheral place in government agendas, national statistics and academic research. These factors have meant that there are no studies on the prevalence of environmental crime in the country, nor on its territorial distribution. Therefore, this article aims to explore the geographical distribution of environmental crime in the country, as well as the identification of green havens of environmental crime in Mexico. To this end, the figures on environmental crime reported by the Attorney General's Office for the period 2006-2018 were analysed and spatially matched with environmental, economic and social variables. The findings show that the green havens of environmental crime are concentrated in states in the northwestern, western, central and southern regions of the country, so that strategies for institutional action and public policies can be oriented towards these regions and states.