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Gwent Police chief constable Mark Hobrough has said the ban on the XL bully breed of dog has placed a ‘huge burden’ on policing.

Speaking in his capacity as the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for dangerous dogs, he said the ban had driven down the number of reported dog attacks, but that costs have escalated.

He said: “The demand has been and continues to be simply huge. We are facing a number of challenges in kennel capacity, resourcing and ever-mounting costs and as of today, we have not received any additional funding to account for this.  

“Veterinary bills and the cost of kennelling across policing has risen from £4m in 2018 to currently standing at more than £11m and this is expected to rise to as much as £25m by the end of April 2025. That’s a predicted 500% increase. 

“Before the XL Bully ban was introduced there were 120 Dog Liaison Officers across England and Wales, we then trained an additional 100 with a further 40 identified to be trained this coming year.  This means that in some areas established dog handlers have been called away from other policing duties. We have had to purchase additional vehicles, equipment and find countless extra kennel spaces from the finite that are available within the industry.”

He added the NPCC is asking for amendments to the law to allow alternative options in dealing with owners of such dogs.

He said: “At the moment, the only option you have is to go to court when someone is in possession of an unregistered XL Bully but we feel there are some situations which could be swiftly dealt with through out of court disposals. For example, there’s potentially a big difference in someone who has unwittingly ended up owning a dog from a young age they weren’t aware was an XL Bully or those who on veterinary advice were unable to have their dog neutered by the deadline versus an individual who is intentionally breeding and selling these dogs.  

“At the top end, unscrupulous criminal dealers and breeders need to feel the full weight of the law going to court but alternative methods of out of court disposals would support us in taking a proportionate response as required.   

“We will always protect our communities by ensuring these dangerous dogs are dealt with but we urgently need the Government to support us in coping with the huge demand the ban has placed on our ever-stretched resources.”

The ban on XL Bullies

The addition of the XL Bully to the list of banned breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act came into effect in December 2023.

The ban followed a number of serious XL Bully attacks across the UK, including two fatal attacks in Caerphilly.

In November 2021, ten-year-old Jack Lis died following a dog attack at a friend’s house on Pentwyn, Penyrheol, and in December 2022, grandmother Shirley Patrick, 83, was killed after being attacked by a dog on Heol Fawr, also in Penyrheol.

Jack’s mother Emma Whitfield led the campaign to get XL Bullies added to the list, after working with former Caerphilly MP Sir Wayne David while he was in Parliament.

Ms Whitfield was also at the forefront of a new local initiative called LEAD, promoting responsible dog ownership.

Since December 31, 2023, it is illegal to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allow XL Bully dogs to stray in England and Wales.

From this date, XL Bullies must be kept on a lead and muzzled while in public.

As of February 1 last year, it is illegal to own an XL Bully unless it is registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs.

XL Bully owners had until the end of January last year to register them if they wanted to keep them, and have to ensure their dogs are microchipped and neutered.

Owners who do not have an exemption certificate from February 1, 2024, face a criminal record and an unlimited fine if found in possession of an XL Bully. Their dog could also be seized.