The Metropolitan police are dealing with at least one dangerous dog every day, figures show, as MPs call for ministers to introduce new laws to stop vicious dog attacks.
Police data shows the force seized 479 out-of-control dogs last year under the Dangerous Dogs Act – up from 333 in 2021 and 336 in 2019. As of the start of May this year the Met police had already seized 154 dogs.
The figures – released under freedom of information laws – show that seizures of some breeds, most notably the American bully, have become increasingly common in the last few years.
The Met has seized 44 American bullies so far this year – almost three times the next most common breed, the Staffordshire bull terrier crossbreed, of which 16 have been seized. In 2018 and 2019, no American bullies were taken by the Met.
The figures add to BBC research which found the number of dog attacks recorded by police in England and Wales had risen by more than a third in the past five years.
There was also a large rise last year in the number of people dying as a result of dog attacks. Typically, about three people a year die from dog-related incidents in England and Wales, but 10 people were killed in 2022. So far in 2023, four people have been killed.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said a rise in recorded dog attacks was down to increased focus from police.
The deputy chief constable Robert Carden, who leads the dangerous dogs working group, said: “There is anecdotal evidence from rehoming centres that they are seeing a rise in dogs with behavioural problems being handed in. It is difficult to know the reasons for this but it could be attributed to dogs bought during lockdown who missed out on key socialisation and have then become too difficult to handle in maturity.
“There are now police officers in all regions of the country focusing on dangerous dogs and dog attacks, working with officers on the ground to ensure that investigations are launched when it is appropriate and proportionate to do so.”
Since 2021, American bully XL dogs (and one American bully XL crossbreed) have killed nine people in the UK.
Metropolitan police figures show that, while the number of dangerous dog seizures rose last year, the number of people being charged remains low. The force made 40 arrests for dangerous dogs out of control in 2022, compared with 186 a decade earlier. Sixteen people were charged – lower than the 20 charged in 2020, and down significantly from 102 in 2012.
Last month a group of MPs tabled an early day motion stating that the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was “woefully ineffective”, and called for new laws to protect the public.
However, campaign groups have warned against calls to expand the list of banned dog types. Dr Samantha Gaines, a dog welfare expert at the RSPCA, said breed was not a reliable measure of aggression.
“Any dog, regardless of their breed, has the potential to bite, and whether or not a dog develops aggressive behaviour is a complex interaction between genetics and lifetime experiences,” she said. “Adding additional dogs to the current list of prohibited types, or measures which seek to manage certain types of dog because they are believed to be more dangerous than others, will not effectively protect the public.”
Last year the government set up the responsible dog ownership working group to look into ways of reducing dog attacks. The group is expected to report their findings later this year.
The NPCC said: “We are aware that incidents can often be very alarming to members of the public who witness them, but I want to reassure people that we are taking the matter seriously and we are cracking down on those who own or breed dangerous dogs. We continue to ask members of the public who know of dangerous dog ownership to contact police on 101, or in an emergency always call 999.”
On Sunday, a woman in Greater Manchester was arrested after a dog attack left an 11-year-old boy with serious injuries.
Greater Manchester police said a dog was seized and a 35-year-old woman arrested after officers responded to a dog attack in Swanley Avenue, Monsall, Manchester. The force said the boy’s injuries are serious but not life-threatening.
The woman was arrested on suspicion of having a dog dangerously out of control and remains in police custody for questioning.
