A final word

We hope this Annual Report 2022/23 provides a flavour of the role of the National Police Air Service in the policing of England and Wales.

The performance outcomes included in this report demonstrate how our crews help save lives and disrupt crime on a daily basis.

Our ability to track and search from the air is a valuable resource.

But the benefits of air support don’t end there.

We provide real-time downlink footage to assist emergency service incident commanders in the command and control of major incidents and events.

We carry stretchers, defibrillators and medical kits and will land to administer first aid in critical situations.

We will transport dog or firearms officers to where they need to be, when time is of the essence.

We capture essential evidence that helps secure convictions in court.

Our officers are highly skilled in developing and advising on search strategies.

And we help safeguard police officers on the ground, providing an all-seeing containment on dynamic pursuits and static scenes, allowing them to stand off and plan a safe strategy for the detention of criminals.

Policing from the air seems simple, but the organisation that sits behind it is complex and delivered by some of the most skilled and experienced aviation experts in the UK.

We welcome our colleagues in policing to visit us to find out more about how we can support you and your communities today and in the future.

Vicki White
Chief Superintendent
NPAS Accountable Manager and Chief Operating Officer