UK PM Rishi Sunak bans dog breed American XL Bully after spate of attacks
London: A man in Britain's Staffordshire died after he was reportedly attacked by a dog.
Following the incident British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has decided to ban a dangerous breed American XL Bully, which has been found to be linked to a string of dog attacks
In a video message, Sunak expressed his deep concern and dismay regarding the recent series of attacks. He stated that he has taken immediate action to initiate the process of identifying and prohibiting the American XL Bully dog breed.
This matter drew significant attention last week when an 11-year-old girl sustained severe injuries from an attack by a similar breed in Birmingham.
"The American XL bully dog is a danger to our communities, particularly our children," said Sunak in his message recorded at 10 Downing Street.
"I share the nation's horror at the recent videos we've all seen. Yesterday we saw another suspected XL bully dog attack, which has tragically led to a fatality. It is clear this is not about a handful of badly trained dogs, it's a pattern of behaviour and it cannot go on," he said.
It’s clear the American XL Bully dog is a danger to our communities.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) September 15, 2023
I’ve ordered urgent work to define and ban this breed so we can end these violent attacks and keep people safe. pic.twitter.com/Qlxwme2UPQ
Sunak emphasized that existing laws already place the onus on dog owners to maintain control over their pets. However, he wanted to convey his commitment to promptly finding solutions to prevent such attacks from occurring.
"Today I have tasked ministers to bring together police and experts, to firstly define the breed of dog behind these attacks, with the view to then outlawing it. It is not currently a breed defined in law, so this vital first step must happen fast. We will then ban the breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act and new laws will be in place by the end of the year," said Sunak.
"These dogs are dangerous, I want to reassure the public that we will take all necessary steps to keep people safe," he added.
On Thursday afternoon, in Stonnall, Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region, a man was assaulted by two dogs outside a property. People intervened to save him and rushed him to hospital but he succumbed to the gruesome injuries.
Meanwhile, the police took precautionary measures by detaining some children attempting to leave a nearby primary school for their safety.