The National Police Chiefs' Council predicts costs of enforcing the ban will have reached £25m by April this year.

A number of police forces across the UK have reported an increase in attacks by dogs since the XL Bully ban came into force. Police have spent more than £11 million kennelling banned dog breeds since the ban came into force in February as it can cost around £1,000 a month to keep an XL bully in kennels.

Kent Police has asked the government for more funding to help with the "huge costs" of enforcing the XL bully ban. It has been illegal to own an XL bully since February 2024, unless the owner has an exemption certificate and complies with strict rules, including neutering and muzzling their dog in public.

The ban on XL bully dogs is expected to cost police forces up to £25million in veterinary bills and kennelling by April this year, police chiefs have warned. The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) revealed the staggering figure this morning - which represents a 500 per cent increase from 2018,

As the XL Bully ban marks its first year, the financial and logistical strain on police forces intensifies, with thousands of dogs seized and a staggering rise in costs, sparking a complex debate on public safety and resource allocation.

XL bully dogs were banned in the UK last year with a number of other illegal breeds also being seized in the process as police use their tools to try tackle rise in dangerous dogs