NEW data from Essex Police has revealed the number of dogs seized and put down under the Dangerous Dogs Act this year.

Essex Police published a Freedom of Information (FOI) request showing the figures relating to dogs in 2023.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 prohibits or restricts certain types of dogs and codifies the criminal offence of allowing a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control.

Dogs under the act are described as out of control, aggressive, have attacked someone or are considered dangerous.

Essex Police have seized 61 dogs in the year to the start of June and 30 of these dogs have been put down under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers were seized 12 times this year, the most of any breed.

American Bull Dogs were next with 11 dogs seized in the year up to June 1.

Here are the figures each year since 2018:

  • 2018 from October – 13 seized, 6 put down
  • 2019 - 74 seized, 34 put down
  • 2020 - 88 seized, 33 put down
  • 2021 - 83 seized, 49 put down
  • 2022 – 107 seized, 55 put down.

The force has also previously revealed the cost of kennelling dangerous dogs from June 2019 to May 2020 was £52,139.