HARNESSING GIS FOR CRIME MAPPING IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES

Abstract

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have revolutionised the landscape of crime mapping by enabling the capture, visualisation, and spatial analysis of crime patterns, thereby supporting more strategic policing. In sub-Saharan Africa, where urbanisation and crime complexity are on the rise, GIS provides valuable insights into the spatial dimensions of criminal behaviour. This systematic review aims to critically assess the applications, challenges, and emerging opportunities associated with the adoption of GIS for crime mapping across low-resource settings, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA framework. Searches were carried out across Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, JSTOR, and PubMed, yielding 186 initial records. After applying defined inclusion and exclusion criteria focusing on peer-reviewed English-language empirical studies published between 2010 and 2025, 29 studies were selected for in-depth analysis. Findings indicate that GIS is widely applied in hotspot analysis, predictive policing, spatio-temporal trend mapping, and environmental criminology. It supports efficient patrol deployment, crime prevention planning, and community safety assessments. However, adoption is constrained by challenges such as poor data quality, limited technical capacity, inadequate infrastructure, and ethical concerns around data privacy and profiling. Moreover, fragmented institutional support and lack of standardisation inhibit long-term GIS integration in public safety systems. Despite these challenges, opportunities exist for enhancing GIS use through mobile integration, open-source platforms, cross-border collaboration, and alignment with urban safety and SDG frameworks. The review underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, policy reform, and investment in capacity-building to fully harness GIS for crime prevention in Africa.