March 2025 – Performance Update
The National Police Air Service (NPAS) has published its performance update for March 2025, highlighting the continued delivery of vital aerial support to police forces across England and Wales.
Response times
In March, NPAS crews reached the scene of Priority One (urgent) incidents in an average of 12 minutes and 43 seconds. For Priority Two (non-urgent) incidents, the average time was 21 minutes and 42 seconds.
Aircraft availability
Aircraft were available for deployment 68.4% of the time in March. This reflects a temporary increase in essential engineering requirements. Planned maintenance is a necessary part of keeping the fleet safe and operational, and we work closely with our engineering partners to maximise aircraft readiness wherever possible.
Operational activity
In March, NPAS received 3,127 requests for air support. The service maintained a strong operational presence across the country.
Since the start of the financial year (April 2024), NPAS rotary aircraft have flown 10,486 hours, while fixed wing aircraft have flown 759 hours, supporting 39 police forces across England and Wales.
Positive outcomes
The proportion of deployments resulting in a positive outcome remained high at 89%.
Our crews have continued to deliver strong results throughout the year (April 2024-March 2025):
- 1,376 vulnerable or missing people located
- 4,224 suspects found
- 1,987 vehicles recovered
These results reflect the critical role NPAS plays in supporting frontline policing.
