In Wolverhampton, at family shows, XL size bullies could be fitted without a muzzle

Police said the facility threatened public safety when it allowed XL tormentors on display aimed at families.

A hangar in Wolverhampton was accused by West Midlands Defense Forces of having a “blatant disregard” for people’s welfare at last summer’s Best of Bullies event, which took place just months after new laws were introduced requiring dogs to be muzzled in public places.

Requesting a review of the venue’s licensing, police said they had “serious concerns” in documents presented to the city council, stating that organizers had “ignored more stringent regulations and allowed a prohibited and dangerous dog to be established” near children.

The BBC has contacted the hangar for comment.

The licensing board is scheduled to hear the matter on January 16 and it is likely the license could be revoked.

The venue’s license has previously been under review for other issues, including nightly fights.

West Midlands Police said the exhibition “featured a banned breed of XL bully dog ​​and, under widely publicized legislation, there are strict rules governing these dogs, particularly in public places.”

He added: “What was even more disturbing was that there were XL unmuzzled bullies in the vicinity of the young children.

“There are serious concerns about the facility’s ability to protect the public and its failure to provide sufficient information to the police about the events it chooses to host so that sufficient risk assessments can be made and mitigating measures implemented.”

In a letter to the council, The Hangar’s legal representative, Savannah Courtenay, “strongly opposed” the review, saying it would be “inappropriate” because dog shows do not fall “within the scope of the licensed activities” and took place outside it. powers (of the Council).”

“Our main position remains that the exhibition in question is not a licensed activity and as such should not be considered in this assessment,” the letter reads.

The XL bullying laws were introduced in February last year after an increase in the number of attacks and deaths.

They have been added to the prohibited dog list, meaning it is an offense to own them without an exemption certificate. Even those kept legally must be muzzled and on a leash at all times in public places.

The council’s licensing department said the evidence showed that “both the license holder and the premises supervisor were aware of the terms of their licenses, which constitutes a repeated and flagrant disregard for public safety by them and management.”