Maths Lesson: Causes of Crime in London?

This activity can be used for developing an understanding of best fit lines or correlation. It can be either computer based or paper based. The data is supplied in Excel for easy manipulation.

Starter

Use the Excel file: Resource 1, Crime in London.

Ask students where crime is worst. The population figures are there to encourage them to ask questions about the data.

What needs to be done to the raw data to work out where crime is worst?

Development

Use the Excel file: Resource 1, Crime in London.

Students work in groups.

Discuss which factors are most likely to lead to crime.

Jobseekers Allowance is paid to the unemployed.
Income support is paid to people on low incomes.
Mortality ratio is the relationship between births and deaths.

Students then select some factors to plot or work out correlations. Encourage groups to pick a selection so all are covered.

Plenary

Gather results from groups.

Which factors have a stronger relationship with crime data?

Discuss possible ways of reducing crime.