Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dr
Thérèse Coffey): The Government is taking urgent action to bring
forward a ban on XL Bully dog types following a concerning rise
in attacks and fatalities, which appear to be driven by this type
of dog.
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, a definition of the ‘American
XL Bully’ breed type needs to be specified in order to impose a
ban. The Environment Secretary and the Home Secretary will
convene experts to define the ‘American XL bully’ breed type.
This group will include police, canine and veterinary experts,
and animal welfare stakeholders. This is a vital first step
towards adding it to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous
Dogs Act. We will engage with the relevant devolved
administrations about adopting a UK-wide approach.
The Government will then legislate to add it to the list of dogs
banned under the Act. I intend to have the legislation in place
to deliver this ban by the end of the year. This will make it an
offence to own an unregistered XL bully, or to breed, gift or
sell one. We need to safely manage the existing population of
these dogs, therefore there will be a transition period. Further
details on how this period will work will be provided ahead of
the tabling of the legislation later this year. Dog owners do not
need to take any action at this stage.
We have been working hard with the police, local authorities and
animal welfare groups to help prevent attacks by encouraging
responsible dog ownership, to ensure dog control issues are
addressed before they escalate and to make sure the full force of
the law is applied. Owners whose dogs are dangerously out of
control are already breaking the law, and we already have a full
range of powers to apply penalties to them. Under the Dangerous
Dogs Act, any dog that is dangerously out of control can be
euthanised and their owners put in prison for up to 14 years and
be banned from ever owning a dog.
While the courts have the power to allow people to keep banned
breeds with certain conditions, like being muzzled and neutered,
the number of so-called exempted dogs is higher than a decade
ago. That was not the intention of the legislation passed over 30
years ago. Therefore, we will also review our guidance to
enforcers of the law.
