PRESS RELEASE- New safety measures introduced to protect children around banned dog breeds
New Measures Introduced to Protect Children Around Banned Dog Breeds
The Government has announced new legal safeguards aimed at strengthening child safety around banned dog breeds, including XL Bully types. The measures, introduced to Parliament on 9 June 2026, will make it unlawful for children under the age of 12 to be left alone with an exempted banned dog in a private setting, such as a home or garden, without adult supervision. The new rules will come into force on 1 November 2026.
What Has Changed?
Under the new legislation, owners of exempted banned dogs will be required to ensure that children under 12 are not left in close contact with these dogs without appropriate adult supervision. Failure to comply could result in enforcement action, including fines and the seizure of the dog.
The changes form part of the conditions already attached to owning a banned breed under a Certificate of Exemption and are intended to strengthen protections following a number of serious incidents involving children.
Why Is This Significant?
The announcement reflects an increasing focus on preventing harm before incidents occur. Rather than relying solely on enforcement after an attack, the new measures place greater emphasis on proactive risk management and responsible ownership.
Whilst the legislation specifically applies to banned breeds, the wider safeguarding message is relevant to all dog owners. Animal welfare organisations and safeguarding professionals have long advised that young children should never be left unsupervised with dogs, regardless of breed.
A Safeguarding Perspective
From a safeguarding standpoint, the new measures highlight the importance of recognising environmental risks that may impact children and vulnerable individuals.
Safeguarding is often associated with organisational settings, but effective safeguarding also requires consideration of risks within the home and wider community. Whether those risks relate to animals, physical hazards, online environments or relationships, the underlying principle remains the same: identifying potential harm and taking reasonable steps to prevent it.
The Government's approach reflects a broader safeguarding principle of prevention over reaction. By introducing clearer expectations around supervision and accountability, the aim is to reduce the likelihood of serious incidents before they occur.
What Can Organisations Learn?
Although this legislation is aimed at dog ownership, the themes will be familiar to safeguarding professionals:
Risk assessment and early intervention.
Clear accountability for those responsible for care and supervision.
Proportionate measures to reduce foreseeable harm.
Learning from serious incidents to strengthen future protections.
Balancing individual freedoms with public safety.
These principles underpin effective safeguarding practice across education, emergency services, local authorities and the wider public sector.
RLB Safeguarding's Perspective
For professionals working across child protection, animal welfare and community safety, the announcement serves as a reminder of the importance of recognising the links between human and animal welfare.
Research and practice have increasingly highlighted the interconnected nature of safeguarding concerns involving children, adults at risk and animals. Professionals working in child protection may encounter situations where animal welfare concerns indicate wider issues within a household, while those working in animal welfare settings may identify risks that warrant safeguarding consideration.
The Government's new measures reinforce the need for a multi-agency approach to risk assessment, information sharing and prevention. Understanding how environmental factors, including the presence and management of animals, can impact the safety and wellbeing of children is an important aspect of effective safeguarding practice.
At RLB Safeguarding, we provide specialist training, consultancy and independent safeguarding support to organisations working across both child protection and animal welfare sectors. Our work helps professionals recognise safeguarding risks, understand their responsibilities and develop effective responses that place the welfare of children, vulnerable individuals and animals at the centre of decision-making.
As safeguarding continues to evolve, there is growing recognition that protecting people and protecting animals are often interconnected objectives that benefit from collaborative, informed and preventative approaches.
Whilst the debate around breed-specific legislation is likely to continue, the safeguarding objective behind these measures is clear: reducing preventable harm and strengthening protections for children.