THE top Oxfordshire postcodes for XL Bully breed dogs have been revealed with 360 of the animals in total across the county. 

The Banbury postcode of OX16 was the top location for approved applications for the XL Bully - with the area ranking 127th across England and Wales. 

This represents 140 animals per 100,000 residents which is also the highest density of the breed across the county. 

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The XL Bully breed is a variant of the wider American Bully breed type. 

Government documents for enforcers described the breed's general impression as that of a 'large dog with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for its size'. 

From February 1 of this year, it has been a criminal offence to be in possession of an XL Bully in England and Wales unless you have applied for an exemption - with potential criminal proceedings and an unlimited fine for owners who failed to comply. 

To qualify for an exemption certificate, owners must have proved their XL Bully had been neutered by Sunday June 30, 2024, or for dogs younger than a year old by January 31, they must be neutered by the end of this year.

Following Banbury, the East Oxford postcode of OX4 had the next highest number of XL Bully dogs - with 56 animals across the address which includes Cowley, Blackbird Leys, Littlemore Sandford-on-Thames, Iffley and Rose Hill. 

The Didcot postcode of OX11 covering a sizeable area of south Oxfordshire was next on the list with 50 animals across the region. 

Other Oxfordshire postcodes to also have XL Bullies include the Bicester postcode of OX26 with 35 dogs, the Abingdon postcode of OX14 with 24, the Wantage and Grove postcode of OX12 with 22 and the Kidlington and Yarnton postcode of OX5 with 19. 

There were also 18 animals in OX10 covering Wallingford, 17 in OX28 covering Witney and 16 in OX29 covering a wider area of Witney and west Oxfordshire, 15 in OX13 around Abingdon and 15 in OX15 just to the south west of Banbury. 

The English location with the highest number of XL Bullies is Croydon where there are 219 dogs in the CR0 postcode. 

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There are 189 dogs in the S5 postcode north of Sheffield and 182 dogs in Warrington.  

Protective measures were brought in place after a number of deaths caused by the breed, with Rishi Sunak calling the animals a "danger to communities, particularly our children". 

Campaign group Bully Watch UK said 15 people in the UK were killed by Bully XL and Bully XL crosses between November 2021 and February 2024. 

XL Bully dogs must be muzzled in public and are now illegal to breed, sell or abandon. 

People with applications for exemptions to own the dogs must hold active liability insurance for their pets and ensure the dogs are microchipped.

People with dangerously out of control dogs can be jailed for 14 years and banned from owning animals, with pets put down.