The transition and transformation of NPAS | National Police Air Service

Throughout 2023/24, an independent programme of work, commissioned by the National Strategic Board and delivered through BlueLight Commercial, continued to explore options for the future hosting arrangements and delivery model of national police air support.

Overseen by a Transition and Transformation Programme Board, the work is in direct response to a decision taken by West Yorkshire Combined Authority in 2021 to withdraw as the lead policing body for NPAS.

NPAS was established in 2012 as part of a National Police Collaboration Agreement.

The agreement is signed by all police forces in England and Wales, and they contribute to the operational costs associated with running the national service.

Since its formation, NPAS has operated from West Yorkshire Police’s headquarters in Wakefield, with the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police holding the Police Air Operator’s Certificate and West Yorkshire Combined Authority adopting the responsibilities of a Lead Policing Body, having had the authority transferred to it from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner of West Yorkshire, on the appointment of the Mayor of West Yorkshire and creation of WYCA in 2021.

The work of the Transition Programme Team is to identify and present future options for the hosting of NPAS.

All options are being explored and a Business Case is due to be considered by the National Strategic Board in September 2024.

Running parallel to the Transition Programme is a Transformation Programme.

Whilst ‘transition’ focuses solely on potential future hosting and governance arrangements for NPAS, ‘transformation’ is a major piece of work which seeks to determine the future requirements of police air support and present options for the most cost-effective and efficient model for delivering a value for money service that meets the demand for police air support.

In consultation with Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners across England and Wales, the aim of the programme is to understand the current and future requirements of air support, identify the challenges, risks and opportunities in the operating environment and present a model which delivers the best outcomes for public safety and operational policing.

This work runs in parallel to the development of a new Police Aviation Strategy by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). A Business Case is anticipated in September 2024.