Brighter Nights, safer cities? Exploring spatial link between VIIRS nightlight and urban crime risk

Abstract

Urban safety is critical for sustainable cities, especially in emerging countries such as India, where growing crime endangers community well-being and economic stability. This research examines the geographical association between nighttime light (NTL) intensity and urban property crime, namely theft and burglary in Siliguri City, India. This research seeks to answer the question: Do well-illuminated areas experience lower property crime incidents compared to poorly-lit neighbourhoods? The research uses NASA's Suomi NPP-VIIRS nightlight data from 2021 to 2023 to examine spatial patterns and relationships between NTL and urban crime, using spatial analytic methods. Furthermore, a Negative Binomial Regression Model (NBRM) confirms the hypothesis that areas with low NTL are more vulnerable to crime. The findings indicate a substantial negative association between NTL and urban crime, with brighter locations seeing lower crime rates. Northern neighbourhoods of the city with poor NTL had increased crime incidents, demonstrating vulnerability. Empirical evidence reveals that a one-unit increase in NTL intensity decreased larceny by 14.8% and burglary by 24.3%. Improved model performance, as shown in R², AIC, and BIC, emphasizes the significance of NTL in crime reduction. The results emphasize the need for strategic investments in lighting infrastructure as a key instrument for urban safety and policymaking.