As many as 16 dangerous dogs are being seized every day across the UK, with police forces taking 114 animals off the streets each week, new data has revealed.
A new Freedom of Information request has unearthed that nearly 6,000 dangerous dogs have been seized by 27 police forces since November 2023.
The figures come as hospital admissions due to dog bites continue to rise, despite the Dangerous Dogs Act being in effect for over three decades.
When broken down by region, Greater Manchester emerged as the UK’s dangerous dog hotspot, with police seizing 19 dogs per week – totalling 1,000 in a year, with 337 being put down altogether.
Police forces are taking 114 dangerous dogs off Britain’s streets each week – here are the top 20 regions where they’re doing it
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Meanwhile, West Midlands Police recorded the second-highest figures, nabbing 17 dangerous animals weekly.
Northumbria Police followed with nine dogs seized per week, West Yorkshire caught eight, and Leicestershire seized six.
The data was obtained through Freedom of Information requests submitted to 27 police forces across the country by the Daily Mail.
South Yorkshire Police, which didn’t rank in the top 20 for seizures, issued a stark warning that “someone will die” following 13 reported dog attacks in just 48 hours.
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Estimates suggest there have been over 25 deaths linked to the breed since 2021Burnley Borough CouncilAmong these incidents was a frightening encounter where a young mother and her baby were attacked by a loose XL bully.
In Sheffield, an American Bulldog’s owner suffered lacerations to his face, neck and head while breaking up a dog fight in his home.
While an elderly woman and her grandchild were also among those attacked by another loose dog in the city.
But experts are now warning that dangerous dog bans may not be the solution to Britain’s growing maulings epidemic – and have called for a shift away from breed-specific legislation in Britain.
A spokesman for Puppies.co.uk said: “Instead of focusing on breed, the emphasis should be on addressing the root causes of dog aggression, which generally stem from irresponsible ownership and breeding practices.”
While Qarrar Somji, Director at Witan Solicitors, warned: “The ban’s reliance on breed-specific identification is problematic, as law enforcement officers need to distinguish XL bullies from similar breeds – which is difficult due to the breed’s non-standardised features.”
Nearly 6,000 dangerous dogs have been seized by 27 police forces since November 2023
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The XL bully ban, introduced following multiple fatal attacks, may not be enough to prevent future incidents.
Doug Smith of Bully Watch warned: “We will likely be seeing more of these attacks. They won’t go away.”
He explained that banned dogs are being illegally rehomed with unsuitable owners, describing it as “idiots giving their dogs to other idiots.”
While breeding of XL bullies has decreased since the ban, Smith noted that ownership levels remain concerning.
Estimates suggest there have been over 25 deaths linked to the breed since 2021, with victims ranging from 17 months to 84 years old.