Flying into the future, exciting times for NPAS

The year 2024/25 marked a period of significant progress for the National Police Air Service (NPAS) with funding agreed to purchase seven replacement helicopters – the most substantial, single investment in police aviation to date.

This is a key milestone in the history of NPAS and comes 13 years after individual police air support units across England and Wales were brought together to form one national service. The new EC135 T3H helicopters are expected to enter service in 2027 and will replace older aircraft with updated technology and improved operational capabilities.

The decision by the Home Office and National Strategic Board to fund this highly-anticipated Fleet Replacement Programme represents clear support for the role of police aviation in public safety and reflects the confidence placed in NPAS by our policing and government partners.

I have the opportunity to observe the strong commitment and performance of our teams across England and Wales and I am delighted to have just recently started in my role as the Chief Operating Officer for NPAS following the retirement of Vicki White.

Throughout 2024/25, NPAS aircraft were deployed over 20,000 times. These deployments contributed to locating 1,376 missing and vulnerable individuals, assisting in the apprehension of 4,224 suspects, and identifying nearly 2,000 vehicles linked to crime. Approximately 89% of incidents attended resulted in positive outcomes.

Each deployment carries its own significance – and is often life-saving.

During a winter storm in Huddersfield, our crew from NPAS Carr Gate used thermal imaging to locate a missing elderly woman when other methods were not viable. In another instance, our St Athan crew located kidnap suspects in rural Wales, working in coordination with local officers and residents.

NPAS also contributed to larger operations. During two weeks of public disorder in summer 2024, our crews provided 80 hours of aerial support.

In July, we supported the security arrangements for a high-profile summit at Blenheim Palace, including 20 hours of continuous air support for visiting dignitaries.

Our workforce remains central to our operations. As of 31 March 2025, NPAS employed 263 staff, including 103 seconded police officers. This year, we revised our Tactical Flight Officer training programme, reducing its duration while maintaining a 90% pass rate, and recruited and trained 21 new pilots.

In February 2025, we announced our partnership with Schiebel to undertake trials of uncrewed aircraft systems in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority and the National Air Traffic Control Service. These Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) trials aim to explore how uncrewed aircraft might complement our existing fleet and provide additional support to policing.

Safety will always be our priority. We introduced new drone restriction zones around key NPAS bases and maintained a robust Safety Management System. In 2024/25, we conducted 72 internal audits and received 13 external audits from the Civil Aviation Authority.

Financially, NPAS remained stable. With £46.8 million in contributions from police forces and additional Home Office funding, we balanced operational delivery with strategic investment.

Looking ahead, we are preparing for the arrival of the new helicopters and continuing to explore innovative approaches to support policing. Plus, we await to see how the plans for a new National Centre of Policing, announced by the Home Secretary in 2024, will develop.

Our commitment to delivering a professional and effective police air service remains strong. To all our officers, air crews, dispatchers, support teams, engineers, suppliers and partners — thank you for your contributions in 2024/25. Together, we continue to support policing and the public from the air.

Read more in the NPAS 2024/25 Annual Report at www.npas.police.uk

The industry will once again be gathering at the NEC, Birmingham for The Emergency Services Show, co-located with The Emergency Tech Show, on 17-18 September, check out the full exhibitor list here. You can learn more about the BVLOS trials when speakers from the CAA join the Emergency Tech Leaders’ Stage as part of a special hour dedicated to drones and uncrewed aircraft.