Police Scotland has no officers trained to identify XL Bully dogs, vital for court cases after new laws began.
A source mentioned a shortage of expertise, potentially causing criminal cases to fail. Scotland’s police lack trained breed experts needed as expert witnesses for cases by prosecutors. English forces have trained officers since as far back as 2019. Scotland has nobody despite the recent new laws. An XL Bully, known as Kilo, was shot by police.
A politician wants the government to act, stating their handling was a mess. They claim police work with limited support, with external experts helping with the prosecutions. Breeding or selling XL Bullies is now illegal, and owners need permission to keep these dogs.
Police Scotland stated that all officers know dog call basics. The Dog Unit offers assistance with specialist gear and help when officers cannot handle a call. Scotland lacks trained dog legislation officers and rely on help from other forces for breed identification. Dog handling policies update constantly, and the police are working with the government, noting that the issue is not due to cost.
Many people and dogs suffered vicious attacks by XL Bullies. Agnes Donaldson got a metal wrist plate, and her dog Milly died after an XL Bully attack. In another incident, police shot an XL Bully after it attacked two men. Owners must muzzle and leash these dog breeds.
Many XL Bullies moved to Scotland last year after England and Wales banned them. Scotland initially did not ban the dogs but the government then changed its decision to mirror the ban.
Prosecutors act based on the facts of each specific case. The government claims policing dangerous dogs is a police matter, and prosecutions are the responsibility of the prosecuting authorities.