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

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.

Figures obtained by The Independent showed dog attacks rose by nine per cent in the first five months since the ban was brought in on XL bully dogs