FOI reference: FOI-2024-2426

You asked

I write to ask for the total number of dog attacks recorded in the UK by breed and by year, and specifically what percentage of those attacks were by XL bullies.

We said

Thank you for your request.

We primarily report on data from two sources; the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) and police recorded crime. 

Unfortunately, the data you are looking for are not held.

Police recorded crime data are collated and provided to us by the Home Office. The Home Office counting rules show that "Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in any place in England or Wales (whether or not a public place) injuring any person or assistance dog. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(1) as amended by Anti-Social Behaviour Crime & Policing Act 2014" comes under the "Assault with injury" category. Table A4 in our Crime in England and Wales; Appendix tables includes "Assault with injury" but we do not hold a further breakdown of these data.

The Home Office may be able to assist you with your query and can be contacted at CrimeandPoliceStats@homeoffice.gov.uk 

Statistics relating to convictions are primarily collected by the Ministry of Justice, and they may be able to provide further assistance. They can be contacted at ESD@justice.gov.uk

If you have any crime-related queries in the future, please email crimestatistics@ons.gov.uk and we will endeavour to help.