POLICE are spending £2.2million to kennel dangerous dogs as a ban on owning an XL Bully comes into effect this week.
Forces are gearing up for an expected surge in demand to cage the animals which have been blamed for at least 12 deaths since the pandemic.
Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire police are spending £450,000 on collection and kennelling of dogs they seize under the Dangerous Dogs Act, according to contract details.
The Lincolnshire force expects to spend £350,000, North Yorks has agreed a £240,000 deal and Norfolk while Suffolk is offering £60,000.
Leicestershire signed a £1.2million deal last year.
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Since the start of the year it has been illegal to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allow XL Bully dogs to stray in England and Wales.
From Thursday it will become illegal to own one if it is not registered on an exemption index.
The dogs must be microchipped and neutered and owners of the US breed must keep them muzzled and on leads in public.
The laws came in after fatal attacks by the bred-to-fight animals.
Victims include Ian Langley, 54, whose throat was torn out by as he bent to pick up his own puppy in Sunderland in October.
