XL bullies: Kent Police train more handlers to enforce dog ban

Kent Police said they have had to train two more dog handlers to enforce the XL bully dog ban.

Chief Constable Tim Smith warned the ban could also cost the force more than £1m to house the seized dogs.

He added it had already cost Kent Police more than £600,000 and this would likely rise to £1,028,181 by the end of the financial year.

A ban on XL bully dogs was introduced in England and Wales on 1 February 2024 after a spate of attacks involving the dogs.

It is now a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog without an exemption certificate, meaning unregistered pets will be taken by police and owners could be fined and prosecuted.

Mr Smith said the legislation had caused “a significant increase in costs, not just financial costs like kennelling and vets, but a strain on our staff too”.

The ban had not come with “any support from government,” he added.

“It does remain a challenge both operationally and financially for the force.”

But Mr Smith added that, despite the financial strain, he supported the law.

“It is absolutely right,” he said.

A government spokesperson said: “We continue to work with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to prevent dog attacks by encouraging responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog, addressing dog control issues before they escalate and using the full force of the law where needed.

“The ban on XL bullies is an important measure to protect public safety, and we expect all XL bully owners to comply with the strict conditions.”

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