Oldham has hundreds of XL Bully dogs registered in the borough, data published by The Spectator has revealed.

It became illegal to own an ‘XL bully’ dog from February 1, 2024, unless the animal was on an exempt list.

Those who wished to keep their dog were required to register them and comply with strict requirements: the dogs must be microchipped, and they have to be muzzled and kept on a lead in public.

Additionally, those which were more than a year old on January 31 need to be neutered by June 30, while those under 12 months need to be neutered by the end of the year.

Owners were also given the option of getting their dog euthanised, for which they could then apply to be compensated financially – something Oldham boxer Mark Heffron said he was 'disgusted' by last year.

Those without an exemption certificate can face a criminal record and an unlimited fine.

Part of Oldham with the most XL Bullies

According to data acquired under the Freedom of Information Act by The Spectator, Oldham has at least 229 XL bullies registered in its postcode areas.

The OL1 postcode area – including the town centre and parts of Chadderton – has the highest rate of XL bullies registered, with 33 dogs making a rate of 130 per 100,000 people.

The OL8 area – which includes Bardsley – has 57 dogs, for a rate of 122 per 100,000 people in the postcode area.

The lowest rate in the borough is in OL3, or Delph, Denshaw, Diggle, Dobcross, Greenfield, and Uppermill, with fewer than 10 bullies recorded, meaning a rate of zero to 59 per 100,000 people.

The OL4 podcast saw 45 bullies, with a rate of 95 per 100,000, while OL2 has 34 bullies for a rate of 83 per 100,000, and OL9 has 36 bullies for a rate of 82 per 100,000.

In the M35 postcode, which includes Failsworth, there are 24 bullies registered – for a rate of 112 per 100,000 people. The M24 postcode has 62, or 122 per 100,000 people.

Across the country, the postcode with the highest rate of XL bullies registered is L27, Netherley, with 55 registered in a population of just 6,728 – making a rate of 817 per 100,000 – far higher than the second highest, L24, with a rate of 471 per 100,000.

The postcode with the highest total number of XL bullies is CR0, in Croydon, London, with 219 registered.