United Kingdom
The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is a police aviation service that provides centralised air support to the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales, as well as the three special police forces serving that area. It replaced the previous structure whereby police forces operated their own helicopters, either individually or in small consortia. West Yorkshire Police is the lead force, and the service is coordinated from the NPAS Operations Centre, at Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
The future of NPAS in its current form is in some doubt. In June 2021 the Mayor of West Yorkshire gave formal notice to end West Yorkshire Police's responsibilities as the leading force for NPAS. At a meeting of the National Strategic Board found the levels of availability for the fleet were suboptimal and that police forces which fund NPAS were seeing financial challenges.
1. National Police Air Service
Rotary Wing
Fixed Wing
Aviation Resources
2023
Airbus H.135
Airbus H.145
Vulcanair P68
2. Police Scotland
Police Scotland is the national police force of Scotland. It was formed in 2013, through the merging of eight regional police forces in Scotland, as well as the specialist services of the Scottish Police Services Authority, including the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.
Police Scotland is the second-largest police force in the United Kingdom in terms of officer numbers, and by far the largest territorial police force in terms of its geographic area of responsibility.
Rotary Wing
Aviation Resources 2023
Eurocopter EC.135
MBB Bo.105
3. Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) incorporating the Royal Ulster Constabulary, is the police service responsible for law enforcement and the prevention of crime within Northern Ireland.
The PSNI is the third largest police service in the United Kingdom in terms of officer numbers (after the Metropolitan Police and Police Scotland) and the second largest in terms of geographic area of responsibility, after Police Scotland.
Rotary Wing
Aviation Resources 2023
Britten Norman Islander
Bitten Norman Defender
Eurocopter EC.135
Eurocopter EC.145
