XL Bully dogs to be banned after spate of attacks, Rishi Sunak announces

15 September 2023 , 10:52

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XL Bully dogs to be banned after spate of attacks, Rishi Sunak announces

Rishi Sunak said he is to ban XL Bully dogs as they are a "danger to our communities" by the end of the year. The PM said it is clear this is not about a "handful of badly trained dogs but is a pattern of behaviour".

In a win for the Mirror's campaign, he said the government is "urgently working to stop these attacks". He has tasked experts to define the breed of dogs behind a recent spate of attacks this week with a "view to then outlaw them" and ban the breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

In a video posted on his Twitter, Mr Sunak said: "The American XL Bully Dog is a danger to our communities, particularly our children. I share the nation's horror at the recent videos we've all seen. Yesterday we saw another suspected XL Bully Dog attack, which has tragically led to a fatality. It's clear this is not about a handful of badly trained dogs. It's a pattern of behaviour and it cannot go on.

It follows a recent spate of attacks (Shutterstock / BAUER Alexandre)

"While owners already have a responsibility to keep their dogs under control, I want to reassure people that we are urgently working on ways to stop these attacks and protect the public.

"Today I have tasked ministers to bring together police and experts to firstly define the breed of dog behind these attacks with a view to then outlawing it. It is not currently a breed defined in law, so this vital first step must happen fast. We will then ban the breed under the dangerous dogs and new laws will be in place by the end of the year. These dogs are dangerous. I want to reassure the public that we will take all necessary steps to keep people safe."

XL Bully attack leaves her needing surgery on arms as she tries to save daughter

It comes after the West Midlands Ambulance Service announced this morning that a man had died after a dog attack in Staffordshire. Emergency services were called just after 3pm on Thursday to reports that a man had been bitten by two dogs and left seriously injured. The ambulance service said today that he did not survive the attack.

Meanwhile a 10-year-old boy was filmed as he was mauled by a dog outside his home, while his family desperately tried and free him. The youngster was playing football on the front drive of his house in Walsall before the out-of-control dog leapt on him and locked on during a two-minute ordeal. It is one of a spate of attacks this week, particularly involving XL Bully dogs, amid calls for the breed to be banned.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman had called for XL Bully dogs to be banned following an attack on a busy shopping street in Birmingham that led to an 11-year-old girl and two men being rushed to hospital. She called the attack "appalling" and commissioned "urgent advice" on whether the canines could be outlawed.

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Sophie Huskisson