XL bully safeguards: First phase comes into force in Scotland

Published

9 months ago

February 23, 2024

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The first phase of the Scottish government’s safeguards on XL bully dogs has come into force.

Holyrood is replicating regulations introduced by Westminster, which makes it a criminal offence to own an unlicensed XL bully dog without an exemption certificate.

From today, XL bully dogs in Scotland must be kept on a lead and muzzled when out in public. Selling, breeding, abandoning or giving the dogs away is also now illegal.

The rules were recently implemented in England and Wales following a spate of attacks in which people died or were injured by the breed.

The Scottish government said the regulations were being introduced north of the border after the UK government’s controls reportedly “created an unacceptable risk of dogs being moved to Scotland from England and Wales”.

The XL bully rules in Scotland

First stage (from 23 February):
•The dogs must now be kept on a lead and muzzled when out in public
• Selling, breeding, abandoning or giving the dogs away is now illegal

Second stage (from 1 August):
• Owners will have to apply and pay a fee, yet to be confirmed, for their dog to be added to the exemption index – which will include having the pet microchipped and neutered

The Scottish government said full details of the exemption application process and the support available will be announced in the “coming weeks”.

Compensation will be payable to owners who no longer wish to keep their pet, including reimbursement for euthanasia.

Those that are convicted of breaching the rules could face up to six months in prison and/or a fine of up to £5,000.

Community safety minister Siobhian Brown previously stressed that the new rules would be “safeguards rather than a ban”.

On Monday, Ms Brown said it was “vital” that XL bully owners get ready and prepare for their implementation.

‘He hasn’t really had the chance of a normal life like other dogs’

XL bully owner Lauren Ballantyne, from Fife, previously told Sky News that responsible owners shouldn’t have an issue complying with the regulations.

However, the mum-of-two is opposed to a ban on dog breeds and instead believes irresponsible ownership and low-welfare breeding practices are to blame.

Ms Ballantyne – who owns XL bully puppy Soprano and French bulldog El Chapo – told Sky News that she has relied on her wages to prepare for the new rules.

She said Soprano has had no issues walking with a lead and harness, adding: “Soprano walks right by your side when another dog is passing – he doesn’t even bother. He’s so laid-back.”

Soprano, who is set to begin training next month, has also been microchipped and registered with a vet.

Ms Ballantyne said she understood XL bully dog owners had to comply with the government rules, but feels they are “unfair” on the breed.

She said: “I’m glad Soprano is so young, but he hasn’t really had the chance of a normal life like other dogs – fetching sticks, playing with a ball (in a park) etc. It’s heartbreaking.

“He’ll be thinking ‘what have I done wrong and why are they getting to play’. It’s so unfair.”

Despite the new rules, Ms Ballantyne said all those thinking about adopting a XL bully dog should not be deterred.

She said: “Don’t be put off by the rules. If you really want a XL and are willing to look after it, care for it and go by the rules, definitely do it.

“They are the biggest, cuddliest dogs ever.”

UK

‘We need help’: Workers say shoplifting is ‘out of control’ as brazen thefts explode

Published

42 mins ago

November 20, 2024

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'We need help': Workers say shoplifting is 'out of control' as brazen thefts explode

A woman casually walks into a convenience store and starts filling a bread crate with goods from one of the aisles.

A shop assistant tries to stop her, but she shrugs him off, undeterred. With the crate now full of items, she leaves without paying.

It is a scenario that is played out day in and day out across Britain, as retailers warn the surge in shoplifting is now “out of control”.

I’m sitting in the security office of a busy city centre shop and I’m watching as a schoolboy walks in and helps himself to a sandwich, stuffing it into his jacket.

Watching with me is shop worker Anton Mavroianu who positions himself by the main entrance waiting for the youngster to leave.

When the boy does leave, Anton demands the item back. Instead of being frozen with fear that he’s been caught, the boy laughs and walks off.

“All we can do is try to stop them,” Anton tells me. “But this is just another day for us.”

A few weeks earlier, when Anton tried to stop a shoplifter who had stolen from the store, the man pulled out a knife and tried to attack him.

This terrifying incident is an example of the very real threat posed to shop workers as they try to stem the tide of brazen thefts.

Shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales have risen to the highest level in 20 years.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) also reports that theft-related losses cost the retail sector millions each year, adding strain to an industry already grappling with post-pandemic recovery and economic uncertainty.

For small businesses, which lack the resources of larger chains, persistent theft can threaten their very survival.

Ricky Dougall owns a chain of convenience stores and says shoplifting cost his business around £100,000 last year.

“Shoplifting is a huge problem and it is what stops us from growing the business.

“People come in and help themselves like they own the place and when you call the police, most of the time, they don’t turn up.”

Mr Dougall says part of the problem is how this type of crime is classified.

Sentencing guidelines for thefts of under £200, so-called “low level shoplifting”, were relaxed in 2016. That is being blamed for the surge in cases.

An exclusive Sky News and Association of Convenience Stores survey shows that 80% of shopkeepers surveyed had an incident of retail crime in the past week.

The poll also found 94% of shopkeepers say that in their experience, shoplifting has got worse over the last year, with 83% not confident that the police will take action against the perpetrators of retail crime on their premises.

Paul Cheema from the Association of Convenience Stores says retailers are looking to Government to support them.

“I would say officials do not give a s*** about us retailers,” he tells me. “The losses are too big and I don’t think we can sustain that anymore.

“I would urge Keir Starmer to come and meet us and see up close the challenges that we are facing.”

Retailers have responded by investing heavily in security measures, from advanced surveillance systems to hiring more security staff.

But these investments come at a cost, often passed down to consumers through higher prices.

I get chatting to Matt Roberts, head of retail in the store I am in. He worries about shoplifting, but he worries about the staff more.

“I would imagine they dread coming to work because they’re always on tenterhooks wondering whether something is going to happen today, whether they are going to have to try and confront someone.

“It’s a horrible feeling. It’s out of control and we need help.”

The government has acknowledged the urgency of the issue. Home Secretary-led discussions with retail associations and law enforcement are underway to craft a comprehensive strategy.

In the King’s Speech, the government outlined details of a Crime and Policing Bill, which promised to “introduce stronger measures to tackle low level shoplifting”, as well as introducing a separate offence for assaulting a shop worker.

UK

Two-thirds of teens living with fear of violence, charity warns

Published

42 mins ago

November 20, 2024

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Two-thirds of teens living with fear of violence, charity warns

Children do not feel safe, a charity has warned, as a survey finds two-thirds of teens in England and Wales have a fear of violence.

The charity, which surveyed 10,000 children aged 13-17, found that 20% of teenagers have been victims of violence in the past 12 months.

“I think what shocked me most is how this is a problem that affects all of our children,” said Jon Yates, CEO of the Youth Endowment Fund.

“We found that two-thirds of all teenage children are afraid. And that fear is pretty real for a lot of them.”

He said it’s a fear so palpable that many teenage children are changing their patterns of behaviour, or have had it influence their daily decisions.

One third of teenage children – 33% – reported avoiding areas, whilst around 27% alter their travel routes or avoid public transport altogether to stay safe.

More worryingly, however, some say the fear of violence has led to mental health challenges, with 22% reporting difficulties sleeping, reduced appetite and concentrating in school.

Weapon carrying is also a concern for the charity, especially among vulnerable groups.

In England and Wales, 5% of all 13-17 year olds reported carrying a weapon in the past year, but that figure jumps to 21% for those suspended from school and 36% for children who have been excluded from school.

But Mr Yates said “shockingly” only 12% of children who repeatedly commit violence get any sort of support.

“That’s madness,” he said.

Jay*, 23, from Birmingham said depending on your environment, sometimes violence is hard to avoid.

“I’ve had friends be shot, I’ve got friends who have been stabbed, I had a friend die last month to be fair,” Jay told Sky News.

He said it is “damaging” because you never really get the opportunity to “heal”. He is now being supported by the charity Project Lifeline, but says before then it was difficult to find any hope.

“If you don’t have hope,” Jay added, “you can’t really get anywhere. It’s about finding that hope.”

Mark Rodney, CEO of Lifeline Project, mentors at-risk young children and said he has learned that “not only the perpetrator carries the knife, the victim sometimes carries the knife”.

“And not only the perpetrator does the killing,” he added. “The victim sometimes does the killing, because that’s where we’re at.”

He said far too many families ask themselves “is my child safe going to school or coming home from school?” and adds the government must “actually start addressing people’s concerns”.

The report also found that in 93% of cases where teenage children repeatedly harm others, adults intervene with punishments such as school discipline or police involvement.

However, only 12% of these children are offered support aimed at addressing the root causes of violence and preventing further harm.

Mr Yates said: “They go to school, they do something violent. They get excluded.”

He added: “We need to be much better at saying, ‘we’re not going to lose that child. We’re going to keep providing support to them. We’re going to keep providing a mentor’.

“Instead, we let them fall through the cracks”.

A government spokesperson said: “Halving knife crime in a decade is a clear mission this government has set out.

“It is vital to protect vulnerable young people who are too often the victims or perpetrators of this crime.”

*names have been changed