Dog attacks breeds 2019 - 2024

29 January 2025  

Request under the freedom of information act 2000 ref no: FOI2025/00099

I write in connection with your request for information received on 6 January.  I note you seek access to the following information:

I am aiming to answer this question:

“How effective is the Dangerous Dog Act (1991) and Breed Specific Legislation, at reducing dog attacks leading to hospitalisation within the UK?”
I am requesting data for the below questions from all police forces within the UK, where possible:

1. Since 2019 how many dog attacks have been reported each year, and if possible, broken down into breeds?

2. How many dog on human attacks have, to your knowledge, resulted in hospitalisations each year since 2019?

3. How many reports of XL bully attacks since 2019, and have you noticed a decrease since the 1 February 2024?

4. Which dog breed carried out the most attacks each year since 2019?

I am required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act) to handle all requests in a manner that is blind to the identity of the requestor. Any information released in response to a request is regarded as being published and therefore, in the public domain without caveat.

Following enquiries within Bedfordshire Police Force please see our response below.

1-3

Recorded Crime - 'Dog attacks'
Dates between: 1.1.2019 - 31.12.2024

Recorded Crime - 'Dog attacks'
word search: 'XL BULLY'
Dates between: 1.1.2019 - 31.12.2024

2. Bedfordshire Police does not hold this information, as it is held by the NHS Hospitals, please redirect this question to them.

4. No information held as Bedfordshire Police does not routinely record dog breed.

The numerical data presented in this response is an un-audited snapshot of un-published data sourced from "live" systems and is subject to the interpretation of the original request by the individual extracting the data.