Campaigners have welcomed the move to outlaw the breed they argue is “a clear and present threat to public health”, but concerns have been raised it may not be practical and lead to other kinds of dogs being prohibited.
American XL bully dogs are a danger to communities and will be banned, Rishi Sunak has vowed, after a man was mauled to death.
Announcing the move, the prime minister said he “shared the nation’s horror” at such attacks and they could not be allowed to continue.
Mr Sunak was responding to the latest incident in which a man died after being savaged by two dogs outside a property in Stonnall, Staffordshire, on Thursday afternoon.
A ban on American XL bully dogs was already being looked at after shocking footage emerged of an attack in Birmingham last weekend that left an 11-year-old girl with serious injuries.
South Yorkshire Police reported four separate dog attacks on children in two days, including one where a 15-year-old was taken to hospital after being savaged by an XL bully in Sheffield.
Police in London are also hunting the owner of a grey pitbull-type dog that attacked a four-year-old boy on Monday.
But the Dog Control Coalition, which encompasses animal charities including the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and the Kennel Club, said banning XL bully dogs will not stop attacks.
Any ban should be based on “robust evidence”, a spokeswoman for the coalition said – adding it was “deeply concerned” by the “lack of data behind this decision and its potential to prevent dog bites”.
She added: “The biggest priority for everyone involved is to protect the public – but banning the breed will sadly not stop these types of incidents recurring.
