Rishi Sunak has announced that American XL Bully dogs will be banned by the end of the year, following a series of attacks.

In a video clip, the Prime Minister called the breed a “danger to our communities, particularly children”, adding: “It’s clear this is not about a handful of badly trained dogs. It’s a pattern of behaviour and it cannot go on.”

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The ban comes after an attack on an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham by an American XL Bully last week which left her with shoulder and arm injuries. Two men who stepped in to help were also injured. The incident prompted Home Secretary Suella Braverman to seek “urgent advice” on outlawing the breed.

A man died in a separate incident in the West Midlands on Thursday after being attacked by two dogs. The breed of the dogs has not yet been announced by police, but Mr Sunak called it a “suspected XL Bully dog attack”.

According to one report, American XL Bully dogs have been involved in 44 per cent of all dog attacks on people in 2023, and 75 per cent of fatalities since 2021, despite only being around 1 per cent of the UK dog population.

Which dog breeds are banned in the UK?

The Dangerous Dog Act was introduced in 1991 following a spate of fatal incidents involving dogs.

Under the legislation, there are four dog breeds currently banned in the UK:

• Pit bull terrier
• Japanese tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro

The United Kennel Club says of pit bull terriers: “The essential characteristics of the pit bull terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. They make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children.”

However, they can also be trained to be aggressive. There were 15 fatal attacks in England and Wales from 1981 to 1991, which resulted in their ban.

The rare Japanese Tosa was originally bred as a fighting dog, and they are now considered near-impossible to come by.

Fila Brasileiro dogs, also known as the Brazilian mastiff, are primarily known for hunting and are noted for their excellent tracking ability and are often thought to be aggressive.

The dogo Argentino is a large, white, muscular breed of dog that was developed in Argentina primarily for the purpose of hunting animals like wild boar.

These three breeds were banned primarily because they were imported for illegal dog fighting.

The Dangerous Dogs Act makes it illegal to own, sell, breed, give away or abandon any of these dogs. If someone is caught with a banned dog, the police or a dog warden have the legal right to confiscate it, even if it hasn’t behaved dangerously and no complaint has been made. They require a warrant to seize the dog if it’s on private property.

What happens to banned dogs?

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) says: “Dogs suspected to be a banned type are taken away from their owner and held in kennels.

“Many dogs find the process very difficult to cope with and can result in undesirable changes in health and behaviour.”

Banned types can be lawfully kept and exempt from euthanasia if they don’t pose any risk to public safety and the owner is considered fit and proper, the RSPCA adds.

“However, conditions must be met for the rest of the dog’s life which can negatively impact their welfare. For example being muzzled and on-lead whenever in public.”

What is the American XL Bully?

The American Bully is a variation of the American Bulldog, a crossbreed that shares its genetic stock with the Pit Bull Terrier. Those larger than 50cm tall are classed as XL.

The Bully is mixed with other breeds such as the mastiff to give it greater size and strength. There have been reports that owners are “tinkering” with DNA by breeding it with other dogs to create “mutant crossbreeds”.

Dr Candy d’Sa, an animal behaviour consultant and expert in animal law, previously told i the breed was often being used as a “status” dog for criminals, many had no paper trail and weren’t registered.

When will XL Bully dogs be banned?

The Prime Minister said ministers would draw up plans to prohibit ownership of the dogs by the end of the year.

“I want to reassure people that we are urgently working on ways to stop these attacks and protect the public. Today I have tasked ministers to bring together police and experts to firstly define the breed of dog behind these attacks with a view to then outlawing it,” he said.

Unlike in the US, American XL Bullies are not currently defined as a specific breed under British law. Mr Sunak said the “vital first step” for the Government would be to outline a specific definition for XL Bullies, before banning the breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act.