Police have seized a staggering total of 4,586 XL bully dogs in England and Wales, leading to kennels becoming nearly full and costs skyrocketing to an estimated £25 million. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has raised concerns over the escalating costs of veterinary bills and kennelling for banned breeds, underscoring the immense strain on policing resources. It has been noted that the expenses associated with housing an XL bully in kennels can amount to around £1,000 per month, with overall costs escalating rapidly. The NPCC has indicated that the expenditure is expected to hit £25 million from February 2024 to April 2025, reflecting a substantial 500% surge in police expenditure since 2018.
Enforcing a ban on XL bully dogs has proven to be no easy task, with police facing challenges of reaching capacity in kennel spaces and coping with burgeoning costs. Since the ban came into effect in February, individuals in possession of XL bully dogs without exemption certificates could face fines and prosecution. Moreover, the ban extends to other prohibited breeds such as the pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, dogo Argentino, and fila Brasileiro. Chief Constable Mark Hobrough, the NPCC’s lead for dangerous dogs, has highlighted the significant strains on policing resources, emphasising the urgent need for government support to manage the mounting demands imposed by the ban.
The considerable financial burden is exacerbated by a lack of additional funding to accommodate the surge in seized dogs and associated costs. Despite ongoing discussions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), no formal agreement has been reached to allocate funding to police forces to address these challenges. The ban has necessitated the deployment of significant resources, with police forces seizing an alarming 4,586 banned dogs between February and September 2024. To address these demands, additional dog liaison officers have been trained, diverting resources from other essential policing duties.
Between February and September 2024, police forces expended approximately £560,000 on staff overtime in connection with dangerous dogs, further straining limited resources. Chief Constable Hobrough has underscored the need for legislative reforms to provide alternative methods for dealing with dog owners, given the current constraints of the court system. The NPCC has highlighted concerns regarding delayed court cases, with some cases not scheduled until mid-2026, prolonging the resolution of dangerous dog incidents.
The introduction of the ban on XL bully dogs was deemed necessary to address the escalating issue of banned breeds within communities. Chief Constable Hobrough has urged the public to report any concerns regarding dogs in their neighborhoods to facilitate appropriate action. The NPCC revealed that police forces in England and Wales have seized and euthanised 848 dogs between February and September 2024, underscoring the gravity of non-compliance with the ban. With kennels filling up rapidly and costs soaring, urgent intervention and financial support are imperative to alleviate the strain on policing resources and ensure effective enforcement of the ban on dangerous dogs.