Migration and crime: a spatial analysis in a borderless Europe

The expansion of the EU has generated vast media interest and political debate about an alleged crime–migration nexus. The gradual disappearance of border controls within the EU has created opportunities for easier people movement, and potentially for offenders to commit criminal offences in other countries. However, little work has been undertaken to understand the general nature of criminal activity by intra-EU migrant populations. This paper discusses the complexity of carrying out research on this issue using openly available data sources across the EU. Spatial clustering of individual nationalities is evident, distinct differences in movements on a regional scale in England are shown. There is also evidence of limited recording practices and data availability across the EU. Data on localised offending by foreign nationals can be used to inform intelligence by national and international police agencies, to generate effective cross-border information exchange, and inform crime reduction policies.