Annual Report 2024/25 | National Police Air Service

This report highlights the valuable and unique work of the ground and air crews of the National Police Air Service (NPAS) throughout 2024/25.

Introduction by Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police John Robins, QPM DL

I am delighted to introduce this report with the very welcome news that we will be bringing brand new helicopters into the national fleet from 2027.

This is the single most significant investment in police air support since the formation of NPAS in 2012 and I thank the Home Office, fellow National Strategic Board members, Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, along with our colleagues in NPAS and Bluelight Commercial, for their work in securing this major step forward in police aviation.

At a time when demand for the service is steadily rising, it is an important advancement in improving the availability of air support to police forces across England and Wales.

It also demonstrates the importance and value that NPAS brings to modern policing and the critical role that our air crews, and support teams, have in saving lives, tackling criminality and keeping people and our communities safer.

That value is evidenced in the pages of this Annual Report.

In twelve months, from April 2024 to March 2025, NPAS aircraft were deployed over 20,000 times across England and Wales.

NPAS crews found 1,376 missing and vulnerable people, helped police colleagues apprehend 4,224 criminal suspects and located 1,987 vehicles connected to crime.

Almost 90% of the incidents attended by an NPAS crew resulted in a positive outcome - a statistic that has remained constant, year on year.

This report provides an account of the performance and highlights the achievements of NPAS in 2024/25.

Looking ahead, with the introduction of new fleet, ongoing exploration of uncrewed aircraft systems and the development of a new national police aviation strategy, we remain firmly committed to delivering an effective, efficient and sustainable national air support service that provides enduring value to police forces and communities across England and Wales.