Seizing XL bully dogs is set to cost Kent Police more than £1 million, it has been revealed.
Officers have admitted looking after seized dogs has already cost the force more than £600,000 – after figures showed an average of more than one a week was put down in Kent in the first six months of the ban.
The revelations were made during the Kent’s Police and Crime Commision’s quarterly performance and delivery board this week, with Kent Police Chief Constable Tim Smith acknowledging the startling fees.
Mr Smith said: “There has been a significant increase in costs, not just financial costs like kennelling and vets, but a strain on our staff too.
“We have had to train an additional two dog handlers as dog legislation officers, bringing our number to six.
“I do fully support the legislation, it is absolutely right, but it has not come with any support from government at this stage, so it does remain a challenge both operationally and financially for the force.”
The exact figure the force expects to spend by the end of the financial year in April is £1,028,181 and comes after KentOnline revealed a dog was being put down every five days.
Figures showed the county’s police force seized 70 XL bullies in the first six months of the ban, with 34 of them destroyed – one every five days.
Nine were returned to their owners, 25 were being held in police custody in kennels and two died.
The latest figures show between February 1 and December 16, some 265 were seized – an average of 26 dogs per month.
It is expected 300 dogs will be seized by the end of the financial year, the PCC board was told.
Full details about the number of seized dogs which have been put down during that time has not been released.
Kent PCC Matthew Scott says he plans to lobby for “fairer funding” for police to enforce and house seized dogs.
A spokesperson from his office said there has been a decline in the number of monthly calls about dangerous dogs to Kent Police but it remains higher than in previous years.
They added: “The anticipated increase in demand following the neutering deadline has not materialised.
“However, exemption breaches are expected to increase as the anniversary date of dog insurance policies pass and are not renewed by the respective owners.”
It is now illegal to sell, breed, or give away an XL bully.
People who already owned one when they were banned were required to register it on the index of exempted dogs and confirm it would be neutered by a specific date, muzzled and on a lead if out in public.
On February 1, 2024, it became illegal to possess an XL bully in England and Wales without this valid certificate of exemption.
Bans have since followed in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Despite the ban, there continue to be attacks in Kent.
These have ranged from injuries being caused to babies to police officers hurt while carrying out raids.
‘It remains a challenge both operationally and financially for the force…’
Nine-month-old Arabella was airlifted to a London hospital in a serious condition following a horrific attack at a house in Hawkinge, near Folkestone, on December 11 last year.
The dog responsible for the attack – an 18-month-old called Hunter – was seized at the scene by police and later euthanised by a vet.
Arabella’s family has since revealed she was put into an induced coma in intensive care to give her the best chance of recovery.
They also say her injuries did not require any surgery and she was discharged after three weeks in hospital.
The breed was added to the list of dangerous dogs by the government which, at the time, said it was taking “decisive action” to protect the public following a rise in dog attacks involving XL bullies – including multiple deaths.
But the controversial move prompted outrage among lovers of the breed, with various protests being held across the country.
Kent Police has been asked for more information about its current budget and future expected spending.
