About

MTA Research is an independent research consultancy specialising in crime science, retail loss prevention, and applied analytics. We help translate evidence into practical strategies, measurement frameworks, and decision-ready reporting.

MTA Research is led by Michael Townsley (PhD), a criminologist with two decades of experience in crime science and prevention. This includes published research, international experience, and previous appointments at leading institutions.

Our focus

We work at the intersection of:

• Retail crime and loss (incidents, people, products, places, processes)
• Fraud and abuse (behaviour mapping, opportunity reduction, controls and measurement)
• Evaluation (credible designs that fit real-world rollouts and constraints)

Our approach

We prioritise:

• Decision-first research — start from the decision you need to make, then design methods to support it
• Rigour without theatre — clear assumptions, transparent limits, results that stand up to scrutiny
• Implementation realism — recommendations that can be delivered in operational settings
• Clarity — plain language, concise reporting, and well-structured outputs

Independence

MTA Research is an independent consultancy and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any university or institution.