Summary
- PM Rishi Sunak says he will ban American XL bully dogs as they are a "danger to our communities"
- He says they first need to be defined as a breed but will then be banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act by the end of the year
- It comes after a man died after being mauled by two dogs in Staffordshire
- The attack happened on Main Street, Stonnall, near Walsall, on Thursday afternoon
- The breed of dogs involved has not yet been confirmed but Sunak said XL bullies were suspected
- A man, 30, from Lichfield was arrested on suspicion of having dogs dangerously out of control
- A recent dog attack on an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham has sparked a debate about banning certain dog breeds
How many people die because of dog bites?
- Hospital admissions for dog bites have gradually increased over the past 15 years
- In 2022 there were 8,819 admissions to hospital in England with dog bites, compared with 4,699 in 2007
- Ten people in England and Wales died because of dog bite injuries in 2022
- Four dog breeds are banned in the UK: pit bull terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brasileiros
- Dogs that share physical characteristics to banned breeds – such as cross breeds – are also banned
- Owning a banned dog can result in an unlimited fine and a prison sentence of up to six months
- In 2022 there were 482 sentences given to owners of dangerously out of control dogs which resulted in an injury to a person in public