Police reveal numbers of dog attacks in Lincolnshire and Rutland this year
Dogs in Lincolnshire are being seized at a rate of more than two a week, new figures have revealed.
Lincolnshire Police received 552 reports of dog attacks in the first 10 months of this year, according to figures from a Freedom of Information request submitted by LincsOnline.
A total of 119 dogs were seized during the period from December 31, 2023 to October 31, 2024. Seized dogs are not necessarily those involved in the attacks.
However, Lincolnshire Police refused to reveal what happened to each of the dogs, explaining in its response that the information is not in a format which would take under 18 hours to retrieve - the amount of time considered appropriate for supplying information under the Freedom of Information Act.
The force also said that breeds of dogs seized are not recorded.
A total of 13 people were arrested in Lincolnshire in connection with dog attacks, with seven of these charged.
In Rutland, two dogs - a whippet and a mixed breed - were put down during the 10-month period, and an XL bully was also seized which is under investigation.
Leicestershire Police also received 19 dog attack reports for Rutland.
Six people were identified as suspects in connection with the attacks, three of whom were given community resolutions while three were not proceeded against due to evidential difficulties.
Following a spate of attacks, at the end of last year the XL bully became a banned breed in England making it illegal to sell, breed, or give away the dog.
People who already owned one 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.
In Lincolnshire more than 650 were registered across the county and in Rutland 19 were put on the index.
By February 1 of this year it became illegal to possess an XL bully in England and Wales without this valid certificate of exemption.
The breed type 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.
During the period from December 31, 2023 to October 31, 2024, Lincolnshire Police has seized 29 XL bully dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act since it became a banned breed and in Rutland, one XL bully was seized and is under investigation.
