**Police Helicopter Activity Over Swansea and Gwent Linked to Training and Emergency Call-Out**
Residents across Swansea and Gwent on Sunday night may have noticed the distinctive presence of a police helicopter illuminating the skies. This prompted a wave of speculation and questions on social media regarding the reason for this aerial presence. It has since been confirmed that the aircraft was deployed by the National Police Air Service (NPAS), responding to both scheduled training and an unfolding police incident.
The NPAS, operating from its St Athan base, began its routine training flight over the Swansea area shortly after 9pm on the evening of 20 July 2025. According to an official statement, the crew was undergoing standard operational drills designed to keep air support teams prepared for a range of scenarios, ensuring their readiness should they be needed for live incidents at a moment’s notice.
However, partway through their training exercise, at approximately 9.20pm, the crew received an urgent call for assistance from Gwent Police. Officers had encountered a “fail to stop” incident in Crumlin, a situation which involves a vehicle refusing to pull over for police and potentially presenting a risk to public safety. A helicopter’s aerial support can be crucial in providing a wide overview for such incidents, offering vital coordination and tracking information to ground units.
The helicopter’s involvement in the Gwent incident lasted around 20 minutes, NPAS has confirmed. Once their assistance on the scene was complete, and after it was deemed there was no further need for their support, the aircrew returned to Swansea to resume their training operations later that same evening.
The National Police Air Service plays a central role in supporting all police forces across England and Wales, providing “eyes in the sky” during critical incidents. Its remit covers not only pursuits, such as the one in Gwent, but also includes searching for vulnerable missing persons and wanted suspects, monitoring public order situations, and offering aerial views during firearms and other high-risk events. This integrated approach is seen by police leaders as critical to keeping communities safe.
The service is enabled by highly technical equipment, including advanced camera systems and direct communication lines with ground teams and police control rooms. These capabilities allow NPAS teams to deliver a fast, appropriate response tailored to a variety of law enforcement needs. Coordination of all air resources across the nation is managed from a central operations hub, ensuring aircraft are dispatched where they are needed most efficiently.
Formed in October 2012, following a Home Office review of police aviation, NPAS represents a nationalised approach to police air support. It is operated by West Yorkshire Police as the “lead force,” a structure unique to UK policing. All 43 territorial police forces across England and Wales—along with the British Transport Police—contribute funding, ensuring air support remains a shared, highly responsive resource.
The NPAS fleet consists of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft stationed at several bases nationwide, making it possible for teams to respond rapidly to incidents almost anywhere across the country. This collaborative approach allows smaller forces to access specialist skills and equipment that may otherwise be unfeasible on an individual basis.
For local residents, unexplained activity in the skies can often prompt concern. Police and NPAS officials encourage the public to understand such flights are either routine drills, vital for keeping crews ready for emergencies, or direct responses to urgent calls, all with the overriding aim of enhancing public safety.
Those wishing to stay informed of police activity in their community are able to subscribe to local police updates and community messaging services, keeping them up to date with relevant information about operations like those seen above Swansea and Gwent on Sunday night.