Extreme care will need to be taken when assessing the changes due to NPAS. The effects of air support lie far beyond the parochial boundaries of air support past, present & future. It is my belief that air support has all sorts of positive impacts throughout the police and criminal justice system. Anyone trying to see what effect it has will need to look very widely. For example, if used well:
It makes prosecution cheaper, easier and more effective
It can have a massive multiplier effect on resources
It can save significant other resources by its effective use
It does things that otherwise could not be done at all
It even changes criminal behaviour for the better
We have never been very good at identifying exactly what its benefits are. It might be useful to try to do some of that.