Banning some dog breeds in the UK won’t stop attacks on humans

Scientists say nurture is much more important than type of dog in influencing aggression levels

Dog bans are back on the discussion table, with Suella Braverman declaring American bully XL dogs are a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children".

The home secretary's intervention follows an attack on an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham, in which two men were also injured. Police have confirmed that the animal was a bully XL crossed with a Staffordshire bull terrier, and Braverman has said she is seeking urgent advice on outlawing the animals. But experts claim that doing so is ethically dubious, and unlikely to significantly reduce dog bites.