Sunak’s American XL Bully dog ban leaves Britons divided after ‘horrific’ killings: ‘Lives are at stake’

Further tests are being carried out to determine the exact breed of the two dogs, but they are believed to be XL bullies.

GB News’ East Midlands reporter Will Hollis spoke to locals in Aldridge to gauge the public reaction, which paints a mixed image.

WATCH PEOPLE OF ALDRIDGE GIVE THEIR OPINIONS

While some are in favour of Sunak’s action, some believe the owners should take more accountability.

Andrew, 63, from Pelsall, told GB News that he supports a ban if it is carried out correctly.

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“They need to look at the process what they’re doing is going to happen”, he said.

“There’s a lot of XL bullies that are kind, they’re not all dangerous, but at the same time, two children is too many.”

Patricia and Alan from Sutton Coldfield are in support of a ban, telling Will Hollis: “Without even thinking about it, they should be banned.”

Stuart from Aldridge concurred with the sentiment, commenting: “It is about time something was done.

“People’s lives are at stake and there is no control over these animals. They should not be walking the streets and attacking these people.

“At the end of the day, there is no retribution. It is about time something was done.”

Joyce Franklin, 79, from Birmingham, said the ban is not fair as owners are responsible for the killings.

“Most dogs are as gentle as anything. It’s the owners”, she said.

“Stop these people from having the dogs. They treat them badly putting them in fights.

“I know people with big dogs but they’re like babies.”

Fiona McCulloch, 62, from Aldridge, owns a bully-cross with a Great Dane, and agrees with Joyce, saying they are treated as “status symbols”.

“My dog is the most living dog you could meet. It’s purely the training of them”, she said.

Rishi Sunak is now planning to ban the breed after the spate of attacks.

The decision has been backed by campaign groups, the Labour Party and Baron Baker of Dorking, who put the Dangerous Dogs Act on the statute books more than 30 years ago.

The pledge comes after it emerged that the breed is said to have descended from a vicious "killer" inbred pet.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman appeared to set the Government action into motion after stating on Sunday that she had commissioned “urgent advice on banning” XL bullies following a video of another incident that went viral when an 11-year-old girl suffered serious injuries in Birmingham.

Posting on Twitter, now known as X, after the Prime Minister’s announcement, Mrs Braverman said she expected police to “use all available powers to protect the public from these beasts” before a ban is formally introduced.