The news comes after Home Secretary Suella Braverman pushed for a ban on American XL Bully dogs after one mauled an 11-year-old girl and two men on Sunday.

She called the dogs a “clear and lethal” danger after a video of the attack in Bordesley Green was shared on TikTok. The dog bit the young girl as she ran past it, and then attacked two men who intervened to help her.

All three were taken to hospital, and the men were left with injuries to their shoulders and arms.

The attack reopened the debate on dangerous dogs and whether more breeds need to be added to the UK’s banned list.

A man also died in a separate incident in the West Midlands on Thursday after being attacked by two dogs. The breed of the dogs has not yet been announced by police, but Mr Sunak called it a “suspected XL Bully dog attack”.

Which dog breeds are banned in the UK?

The Dangerous Dog Act was introduced in 1991 following a spate of fatal incidents involving dogs.

Under the legislation, there are four types of dog breed currently banned in the UK:

• Pitbull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro

The American XL Bully will also be added to the list of banned dogs at the end of the year.

The United Kennel Club says of Pitbull Terriers: “The essential characteristics of the Pitbull Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. They make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children.”

However, they can also be trained to be aggressive. There were 15 fatal attacks in England and Wales from 1981 to 1991, which resulted in their ban.

The rare Japanese Tosa was originally bred as a fighting dog, and they are now considered near-impossible to come by.

Fila Brasileiro dogs, also known as the Brazilian Mastiff, are primarily known for hunting and are noted for their excellent tracking ability and are often thought to be aggressive.

The Dogo Argentino is a large, white, muscular breed of dog that was developed in Argentina primarily for the purpose of hunting animals like wild boar.

What happens to banned dogs?

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) says: “Dogs suspected to be a banned type are taken away from their owner and held in kennels.

“Many dogs find the process very difficult to cope with and can result in undesirable changes in health and behaviour.”

Banned types can be lawfully kept and exempt from euthanasia if they don’t pose any risk to public safety and the owner is considered fit and proper, the RSCPA adds.

“However, conditions must be met for the rest of the dog’s life which can negatively impact their welfare. For example being muzzled and on-lead whenever in public.”

What are American XL Bully dogs?

The American Bully is a variation of the American Bulldog, a crossbreed that shares its genetic stock with the Pit Bull Terrier. Those larger than 50cm tall are classed as XL.

The Bully is mixed with other breeds such as the Mastiff to give it greater size and strength. There have been reports that owners are “tinkering” with DNA by breeding it with other dogs to create “mutant crossbreeds”.

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Dr Candy d’Sa, an animal behaviour consultant and expert in animal law, previously told i the breed was often being used as a “status” dog for criminals, many had no paper trail and weren’t registered.

As a newer breed that is not recognised by any of the main dog associations in the UK, XL Bully dogs are not currently covered by the Dangerous Dogs Act.

According to the PA news agency, there are concerns that as the dog is not recognised as a specific breed by the Kennel Club, it could be hard to define and a ban could inadvertently outlaw a range of other dogs.

The RSPCA has also warned that a ban could drive ownership further underground.

Dr Samantha Gaines, a dog welfare expert at the RSPCA, said earlier this year: “Any dog, regardless of their breed, has the potential to bite, and whether or not a dog develops aggressive behaviour is a complex interaction between genetics and lifetime experiences. Adding additional dogs to the current list of prohibited types, or measures which seek to manage certain types of dog because they are believed to be more dangerous than others, will not effectively protect the public.”

However, calls are now mounting for a ban after the most recent attack. Ms Braverman wrote on social media: “This is appalling. The American XL Bully is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children.

“We can’t go on like this. I have commissioned urgent advice on banning them.”

Safety campaigners warn the dogs, which weigh up to 70kg, can be difficult to control and have strong jaws and a bite capable of causing serious harm.

A recent study of dog attacks found two in four deadly dog attacks Britain in 2021 involved the breed, and the number rose to six in 10 in 2022.

Among those who were murdered by American bully dogs was 10-year-old Welsh schoolboy Jack Lis who was attacked while playing at a friend’s house in November 2011.

The youngster’s mother Emma Whitfield, has called for an overhaul of the Dangerous Dogs Act “to make sure that nobody else is ever put in the position of me and my family”.