Perpetuity Research

What Perpetuity Research does

Perpetuity Research & Consultancy International Ltd is a privately held UK research and consultancy firm founded in 1999 as a spin-out from the University of Leicester and headquartered in Tunbridge Wells. The firm specialises in crime and security research, employing quantitative and qualitative methodologies to evaluate 'what works' in crime prevention, understand behaviours and perceptions, identify trends, and inform policy formulation across areas including security and risk, economic crime, organised crime, criminal justice, education, healthy communities, and transport. Its work has produced published findings of policy significance, such as research showing 31-45% of fraud is linked to organised crime and that organised-fraud victims lose on average over £10,000 per offence versus £4,000 for non-organised fraud.

The company's revenue model rests on three distinct streams. The largest is project-based research services sold to government agencies, law enforcement, and private sector clients on a quote-based engagement model. The second is the Secured Environments police accreditation scheme, which Perpetuity manages on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers (since 2007), generating recurring managed-services revenue from UK organisations such as universities, commercial properties, and landmarks seeking police-recognised security certification. The third is the international Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs), a licensing/awards scheme now operating in six countries. Perpetuity also operates the Security Research Initiative (SRI), a membership-based thought leadership programme funded by major security industry sponsors including G4S, Mitie, Securitas, Sodexo, Royal Mail, and PwC.

The firm serves a diversified client base spanning UK central and local government (Leeds City Council, Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service), law enforcement-linked bodies (Police Foundation), higher education institutions (Universities of Leeds and Portsmouth), insurers (Lloyd's of London), and corporate security buyers (Barclays, via the Fraud Advisory Panel). Distribution is sales-led and direct, supplemented by thought-leadership content, an active social and email channel mix, and presence at major industry events such as IFSEC International and Counter Terror Expo. The team is small (1-10 employees) and founder-led, with Professor Martin Gill as Director. There is no external funding, no M&A history, and no disclosed revenue.

Name

Perpetuity Research

Legal name

Perpetuity Research & Consultancy International Ltd

Website

https://perpetuityresearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Perpetuity Research is a UK-based research and consultancy firm specialising in crime, security, fraud, and community safety research, serving government agencies, law enforcement, higher education institutions, and corporate clients through project commissions, the Secured Environments police accreditation scheme, and the international OSPAs awards programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Security Research & Consultancy

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Due Diligence & Investigative Research (BPAHALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safety Compliance, Audits & Risk Assessments (Security Assessments, CPTED) (EDAEACAN), Safeguarding, Accountability & Compliance (ESG, Gender/GBV, Do No Harm) (BPADAEAM), Financial Crime & Fraud Prevention (Forensics, Investigations) (EDABAJAK)

Keywords

• Crime prevention research
• Security risk consultancy
• Police accreditation services
• Economic crime research
• Penetration testing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tunbridge Wells

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Services: Project-based research engagements with government agencies, law enforcement, and private sector clients. Services include evaluating crime prevention programs, security assessments, and policy research.
2. Secured Environments Accreditation Scheme: Management and administration of the police accreditation scheme for organizations demonstrating effective security management. Perpetuity manages this certification on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers.
3. OSPAs Awards Scheme: Operation of the Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs), an international awards scheme operating in multiple countries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Perpetuity Research provides commissioned research and consultancy services using quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate crime prevention interventions, security effectiveness, and related policy. The firm also manages the Secured Environments police accreditation scheme for the ACPO, administers the international OSPAs awards, runs the Security Research Initiative membership programme, and conducts penetration tests and mystery shoplifting assessments.

Product overview

Perpetuity Research offers a portfolio of research and consultancy services focused on crime and security. The core offerings include Research Services for evaluating crime and security interventions, the Secured Environments police accreditation scheme, and Penetration Tests for security assessment. The company also operates the Security Research Initiative (SRI) for industry research and the Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) for recognising security excellence. Research specialisms span Security & Risk, Economic Crime, Criminal Justice, Organised Crime, Healthy Communities, Education, and Transport sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Services Comprehensive commissioned research services using both quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluate 'what works' in crime and security contexts. Clients include police forces, government departments, universities, and corporate organisations seeking to understand behaviours, perceptions, awareness, and trends to inform policy and decision-making.
• Secured Environments Police Accreditation Police accreditation scheme awarded to organisations demonstrating effective management measures to protect premises and workforce from criminal activities. Perpetuity manages the scheme on behalf of ACPO. Awardees include Lloyd's of London, University of Leeds, and other UK landmarks and commercial properties.
• Penetration Tests and Mystery Shoplifting Security testing services (also referred to as mystery shoplifting) that provide first-hand feedback on the effectiveness of an organisation's security measures by simulating attempted criminal activity.
• Security Research Initiative (SRI) Membership-based thought leadership research programme exploring key security issues, with findings shared through publications. Members include major security service providers and corporate security functions who fund and guide research into industry-relevant topics.
• Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) An international awards scheme that recognises outstanding security performance across multiple categories, currently operating in six countries and expanding to additional markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research found between 31% and 45% of fraud linked to organised crime, at least twice previous estimates
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fraud Advisory PanelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2025Perpetuity Research was commissioned by the Fraud Advisory Panel to undertake research as part of the Business Fraud Alliance campaign, an initiative supported by Barclays, aiming to strengthen fraud prevention and protection for businesses.
• BarclaysminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2025Barclays is supporting the Fraud Advisory Panel's Business Fraud Alliance campaign, for which Perpetuity Research is conducting research on fraud in the workplace.
• Security Research Initiative (SRI) MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2025The Security Research Initiative is a membership-based research program sponsored by security industry companies including Carlisle Support Services, CIS Security Ltd, G4S, Interr, M&S, Mitie, PwC, Royal Mail, Securitas, SIA, and Sodexo. Members fund and guide research into security sector issues.
• Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (Security, Order and Counter Terrorism Directorate)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2021Perpetuity Research was commissioned by HM Prison and Probation Service to undertake research into security managers working in prisons, aiming to inform a modern approach to security management in custodial settings.
• University of LeicesterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Perpetuity Research started as a spin-out from the University of Leicester, maintaining connections to academic research.
• National Security Inspectorate (NSI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2017NSI commissioned Perpetuity Research to conduct a study on 'Maximising the public benefits of automated alarms', revisiting the police URN response model and exploring how modern technology can enhance police-industry collaboration.
• University of Portsmouth (Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership with University of Portsmouth's Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime on research exploring opportunities for police to leverage private and not-for-profit sector resources in fighting economic crime.
• Police FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Perpetuity Research and the Police Foundation have been working together since 2014 on a study supported by the Dawes Trust examining the impact of serious organised crime in communities and how this threat is tackled locally. The partnership has produced multiple research reports on organised crime, fraud, and local policing responses.
• Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) / Police Crime Prevention InitiativescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Perpetuity Research manages the Secured Environments police accreditation scheme on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers. This scheme awards organisations that demonstrate effective management measures to protect premises and workforce from criminal activities.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• S-RM: Global corporate intelligence and security consultancy blending research, investigations, and advisory. Comparable to Perpetuity in combining specialist security research with bespoke client mandates, though with a broader corporate footprint.
• Crest Advisory: Specialist UK security and justice consultancy conducting research for police, government, and the third sector. Highly comparable to Perpetuity's mix of commissioned research, policy advisory, and crime-prevention evaluation.
• Royal United Services Institute (RUSI): UK-based independent security and defence research institute producing policy-relevant studies. Closely comparable to Perpetuity's evidence-based security and crime research model, though larger in scale and broader in defence scope.

Broad incumbents

• Control Risks: Global risk consultancy offering security advisory, investigations, and intelligence services. Comparable in security domain expertise but operates at much larger scale with a broader service portfolio.
• Kroll: Global investigations, security, and advisory firm. Overlaps with Perpetuity in fraud investigation support and security assessments, but Kroll is far larger and serves Fortune 500 enterprise clients.
• Jane's (Janes Information Group): Open-source intelligence and security research provider serving defence, government, and enterprise. Comparable in subscription-based security research IP, though far larger and focused on defence/geopolitical intelligence.
• Ecorys: International research and consulting company delivering evaluations and policy research for government and EU bodies. Comparable in evidence-based research-for-hire model and public-sector client mix.
• RAND Europe: European arm of RAND providing policy research across security, justice, and crime. Comparable in research methodology and policy-evaluation work, but operates at substantially greater scale and funding base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PerpResearch
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PerpetuityResearch
• Facebookfacebook.com/perpetuityresearchUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/perpetuity-research-and-consultancy-international-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Perpetuity Research