About us
The National Police Air Service (NPAS) provides air support to all police forces across England and Wales, helping to keep communities safe from the skies.
What we do
NPAS supports police operations with a wide range of tasks, including:
- Searching for missing people and wanted suspects
- Assisting with vehicle pursuits
- Supporting public order and counter-terrorism operations
- Providing aerial support during firearms incidents and other high-risk situations
Our crews use state-of-the-art camera systems and maintain direct communication with ground officers and control rooms to deliver fast, coordinated responses.
A national, borderless service
We operate a fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft from a network of bases across the country. All flights are coordinated through the NPAS Operations Centre, based in West Yorkshire, which manages requests from police forces and partner agencies 24/7.
NPAS was established in October 2012 following a national review by the Home Office. It is delivered by West Yorkshire Police as the lead force - an arrangement unique in UK policing. All 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales, along with British Transport Police, contribute funding to support the service.
Governance
NPAS is overseen by three main governance bodies:
National Strategic Board
Chaired by a Chief Officer and Police and Crime Commissioner from each NPAS region, along with a representative of the Home Secretary and the National Police Aviation Lead. This board sets the strategic direction of the service.
Independent Assurance Group (IAG)
Made up of Assistant Chief Constables from across the regions, the IAG reviews NPAS’s operational performance and ensures accountability.
West Yorkshire oversight
Within West Yorkshire Police, the West Yorkshire Mayor (who took over from the Police and Crime Commissioner in 2021) leads a board that supports the NPAS Accountable Manager in the day-to-day running of the service. Find out more about the Combined Authority for West Yorkshire
NPAS also works closely with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to ensure all operations meet strict safety and regulatory standards.