THE SPATIAL PATTERN OF CRIME IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

The paper focuses on assessing the spatial distribution of crime in the Czech Republic and on identifying the deeper connection between crime structure and the characteristics of areas. The analyses work with police districts as a relatively detailed unit of analysis and draw on current data from 2013-2015. Before examining the influence of socio-economic, sociocultural, and demographic factors the spatial pattern of total crime distribution is described. Police districts are compared using Ward's Method of clustering on the basis of their crime structure. The results show, among others, a link between low-crime areas and cultural and migration stability. By contrast, a high level of crime is typical for structurally affected regions or the suburban hinterland of larger cities.