The Prime Minister’s ban on American XL bully dogs has been commended by the former Conservative home secretary who introduced the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Rishi Sunak on Friday said the dogs will be banned by the end of the year in response to a series of attacks.
The decision has been backed by campaign groups, the Labour Party and Baron Baker of Dorking, who put the Dangerous Dogs Act on the statute books more than 30 years ago.
The pledge comes after it emerged a man died after being attacked on Thursday by two dogs – suspected to be bully XLs – in Staffordshire.
It’s clear the American XL Bully dog is a danger to our communities.
I’ve ordered urgent work to define and ban this breed so we can end these violent attacks and keep people safe. pic.twitter.com/Qlxwme2UPQ
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) September 15, 2023
Home Secretary Suella Braverman appeared to set the Government action into motion after stating on Sunday that she had commissioned “urgent advice on banning” XL bullies following a video of another incident that went viral when an 11-year-old girl suffered serious injuries in Birmingham.
Posting on Twitter, now known as X, after the Prime Minister’s announcement, Mrs Braverman said she expected police to “use all available powers to protect the public from these beasts” before a ban is formally introduced.
Mr Sunak said he had ordered ministers to bring together police and experts to define the breed of dog behind these attacks so they can then be outlawed.
In a video posted on social media, the Conservative Party leader said: “We will then ban the breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 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.”
Lord Baker, the architect of the Act during the Sir John Major era, said American XL bully dogs should be “neutered or destroyed” once the ban has come into force, with any permitted to live being “muzzled for the entire time”.
“This dog is, in fact, bred in order to fight and to be aggressive. It has already done enough damage and the Prime Minister is absolutely right to add it.”
Three campaign groups issued a joint statement welcoming the UK Government’s announcement.
Bully Watch, the Campaign for Evidence Based Regulation of Dangerous Dogs (CEBRDD) and Protect Our Pets claimed the XL bully breed was a “a clear and present threat to public health”.
A man has been mauled by two dogs in Stonnall. There are rumours that the dogs in question are two Bully XLs. The man mauled is in critical question. Police sharpshooters were called and a number of police were called to the scene.
We are asking for clarification. If the dogs…
— Bully Watch (@BullyWatchUK) September 14, 2023
Lawrence Newport, of CEBRDD, said: “Retrievers retrieve, pointers point. Fighting dogs fight. We have found this to our great cost.
“The importing of the American bully, a highly inbred Pitbull-type, led to skyrocketing deaths and attacks. This ban will finally allow the Government and police to act, before another child or pet is ripped apart.”
A mother-of-two who saw her family’s King Charles cavalier killed by what she believes was a bully XL said it was a “good thing to ban them”.
Cam Maguire, a school office manager from Chessington, Greater London, took her family pet Beau for a walk on Wednesday when a much larger dog matching the appearance of an XL bully “charged” at her pet and “wouldn’t let go”.
The 39-year-old told the PA news agency: “They’re not family pets, they’re just bred to intimidate and attack. It’s just not right.”
Labour, while supportive of the ban, criticised the Prime Minister for “dithering” over bringing in restrictions on their ownership.
Downing Street denied the Government had taken too long to introduce a prohibition.
The dog type is not recognised as a specific breed by the Kennel Club.
Mr Sunak, asked by broadcasters whether there was a risk other dogs such as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier could be caught up in the ban, said animal experts and police would work to “accurately define the breed of concern”.
Animal charities including the RSPCA have been pushing for an end to breed-specific bans, which they say work against dogs perceived to be “dangerous” and lead to thousands of “innocent” animals being put down.
There are currently four banned breeds of dog in the UK: the pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino and fila Brasileiro.
The 30-year-old, from the Lichfield area, was previously arrested on suspicion of being in charge of dogs dangerously out of control causing injury.
One of the dogs died after being restrained and the other died after an injection was given by a vet, the force said, adding that both were believed to be XL bullies but further tests are being carried out to determine their breed.
Separately, a 60-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a dog dangerously out of control after the dog attack on Saturday that left 11-year-old Ana Paun with injuries that required her to spend a night in hospital.
She suffered shoulder and arm injuries in the attack by an American bully XL and Staffordshire bull terrier crossbreed puppy in Bordesley Green, Birmingham.
Two other men were also injured in the attack after the dog broke free from its collar twice.
