Research And Statistics On Dog Bites And Attacks In The UK
With the rise in dog bites and attacks in the UK, some of which have inflicted fatal injuries, we at Legal Expert wanted to get to the bottom of the issue.
Our Research Into Dog Bites And Attacks In The UK
We have conducted an extensive research campaign involving Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. These requests have been submitted to every police force in the country.
In our requests we have asked for data on the number of dogs that the police have had to destroy in the last few years to identify any rising trends.
We have also sought information on the breeds in question, such as XL bulldogs and pitbulls.
Discover The Dog Bite Statistics For Your Area
- Derbyshire
- Devon and Cornwall
- Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
- Gwent
- South Yorkshire
- Greater Manchester
- Cheshire Constabulary
Get Legal Support After A Dog Bite
Dog bites and attacks can not only inflict serious physical injury, they’re also traumatic incidents that can leave a lasting mental impact.
Our specialist team of personal injury solicitors knows and understands this. They can help you get the compensation that you could be entitled to, and you can speak with them for free today to find out more.
Simply call 0800 073 8804
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You can also learn more about dog bite claims in our comprehensive guide.
The Results Of Our Research Into Dog Bites And Attacks
Below, you can find the results of our research broken down by geographic area.
Derbyshire
The number of dogs destroyed by Derbyshire Constabulary has risen by 53% in the last five years, new data from LegalExpert.co.uk has found.
In addition, staffordshire bull terriers were the most common dog breed that were destroyed by Derbyshire Constabulary from 2018 to 2022.
Last year alone, 97% of dogs that were destroyed by the force were a result of Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which relates to when dogs are dangerously out of control.
One incident involved a dog being destroyed due to a court order.
Whilst there were no records of the American bully XL breed from 2018 to 2019, since 2021, American bully XLs have become the second most destroyed dog breed behind staffordshire bull terriers.
Further data obtained from Derbyshire Constabulary revealed that the number of dogs seized by the force has dramatically increased by 47%.
The most commonly seized dog breeds were staffordshire bull terriers, akita huskies, pit bull types and American bully XLs.
Reasons dogs were seized by the force included dogs being dangerously out of control and seizures made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Devon and Cornwall
The number of dogs destroyed by Devon and Cornwall Police has increased by 25% since 2020.
A Freedom of Information request uncovered that a total of 41 dogs were destroyed by the force during this period.
The most common dog breeds destroyed included the American Bully, American Bully XL and Pitbull, which each made up around 10% of dogs destroyed by the force.
Over three-quarters of the reasons that Devon and Cornwall Police destroyed dogs was a result of Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Hampshire And Isle Of Wight
The number of dogs destroyed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has risen by 35% in the past three years, new data from LegalExpert.co.uk has found.
In 2023 alone, 18 dogs have been destroyed as a result of bite attacks – an increase of almost two-fifths since 2020.
Other causes of dogs being destroyed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary related to them acting aggressively or their breed type.
Ultimately, the most common reason that dogs have been destroyed in the past three years was because of bite attacks, with 85% of incidents relating to dog bites.
The most commonly destroyed dog breeds in Hampshire and Isle of Wight since 2020 were:
- Cane Corso – 12.5%
- Mixed breed – 12.5%
- Staffordshire bull terrier – 10%
- Pitbull – 10%
- American bulldog – 8%
For a copy of the FOI response, please get in touch.
Norfolk
The number of dogs destroyed by Norfolk Constabulary has risen by more than a third since 2020, new data from Legal Expert has revealed.
Crossbreeds were destroyed more than any other type of dog by the force between January 2020 to September 2023, accounting for 39% of all dog destructions.
German Shepherds and American Bulldogs followed behind, with both breeds making up 13% of dog destructions carried out by Norfolk Constabulary.
Dogue De Bordeaux cross German Shepherd dogs, a breed not previously destroyed by the force in the last four years, is the most commonly destroyed dog so far in 2023.
The majority of cases where a dog was destroyed by Norfolk Constabulary in the last year was a result of the dogs being disclaimed.
This was also the most common reason that dogs have been destroyed since 2020.
Additionally, Norfolk Constabulary was found to have destroyed 15% more dogs than Suffolk Constabulary in the same period.
Suffolk
Suffolk Constabulary has destroyed pitbulls more than any other type of dog breed since 2020, new data from Legal Expert has revealed.
Pitbulls made up 35% of all dog types that were destroyed by the force between January 2020 to September 2023.
Crossbreeds, bulldogs, XL bullies and Malinois each accounted for 10% of dogs destroyed in the same period.
Dogs being disclaimed made up four-fifths of the reasons why dogs were destroyed by Suffolk Constabulary in the last four years.
The majority of reasons dogs were destroyed by the force this year so far has related to dogs being disclaimed.
However, there was one incident where a dog was found to have no owner.
Additionally, Suffolk Constabulary was found to have destroyed 15% less dogs than Norfolk Constabulary in the same period.
Gwent
The American Bully is the most common dog breed destroyed by Gwent Police.
Data obtained from Gwent Police revealed that a third of dogs destroyed by the force since 2020 were American Bullies.
Pitbulls and XL Bullies both accounted for a fifth of dogs destroyed in the same period.
Further data from Gwent Police indicated that since 2020, the amount of dogs destroyed by the force has risen by 50%.
The most common reason that dogs were destroyed were a result of Section 3 of the Dangerous Dog Act, which accounted for 80% of destructions.
South Yorkshire
The number of dogs destroyed by South Yorkshire Police has increased by 292% in the last two years.
The figures obtained from the force revealed that a total of 431 dogs had been destroyed from September 2020 to September 2023.
In 2020 and 2021, the number of dogs destroyed was 51.
This increased to 129 in 2022, before rising once again to 200 this year.
Amongst the reasons dogs were destroyed including them being disclaimed, in breach of a court order or being strays.
Breed information is not recorded by South Yorkshire Police, therefore the force was unable to provide data on what type of breed that the dogs destroyed were.
Greater Manchester
The number of dogs destroyed by Greater Manchester Police has risen by 200% in the last two years.
Figures obtained from the force revealed that the number of dogs destroyed between September 2020 to September 2023 totalled at 218 – one of the highest amounts recorded by police forces across Great Britain.
Whilst 8 dogs were destroyed in the last quarter of 2020, that number rose to 27 the following year.
It increased again to 102 in 2022, whilst the number of dogs destroyed in 2023 currently stands at 81.
Around 90% of the reasons that the force destroyed dogs was a result of them being disclaimed.
Furthermore, the most commonly destroyed dog this year was XL Bullies, which made up over a fifth of all dog breeds that were destroyed by Greater Manchester Police in 2023.
Cheshire Constabulary
The number of dogs destroyed by Cheshire Constabulary has risen by 185% since 2021.
Figures obtained from the force via a Freedom of Information request revealed that a total of 46 dogs had been put to sleep in the last two years.
The most common dog breeds included XL Bullies and German Shepherds, which both accounted for 12% of dog breeds destroyed by Cheshire Constabulary.
The American Bulldog and Staffordshire Bull Terrier were also commonly put to sleep, making up 8% and 6% of figures, respectively.
However, this year, XL Bullies were destroyed more than any other type of dog breed.
XL Bullies, which are set to be banned from next year, accounted for 15% of all types of dogs put to sleep by Cheshire Constabulary.
Cumbria Constabulary
The XL Bully is the most common dog breed destroyed by Cumbria Police, according to figures obtained via a Freedom of Information request.
Pitbull and bulldog breeds ranked second highest in the figures of destroyed dogs in the last three years.
Since 2020, a total of 24 dogs have been destroyed by Cumbria Police, the most common being XL bullies.
Five XL bullies have been destroyed between September 2020 and September 2023. 1 in 2021, another in 2022 and a total of three in 2023.
It comes amid a rise in the amount of dogs being destroyed each year by Cumbria Police.
Further data obtained from the force shows that the number of dogs being destroyed has increased by over 100% in the last three years.
In 2020, there were no dogs destroyed according to police data. In 2021 there are 4 recorded instances. This increased to 9 in 2022 and then 11 in 2023.
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