A venue has been accused of ”blatantly disregarding public safety” for allowing unmuzzled XL bullies at a ‘family’ dog show.

The Hangar in Pountney Street, Wolverhampton, hosted ‘Best of Bullies’ events last summer that ‘ignored stricter laws and allowed the banned and dangerous dogs to be unmuzzled in public and near children’.

West Midlands Police requested the venue’s licence be reviewed by City of Wolverhampton Council over “serious concerns” about the events. 

The authority’s licensing committee meets on January 16 to review the venue’s licence. The venue’s designated supervisor is listed as Nathan Thaker on the current licence with Sam Evans registered as the licence holder. 

The venue had its licence reviewed over a separate list of issues, including alleged late-night brawls and drunken antics outside the venue, in July 2023 with councillors deciding to ban former licence holder Steve Simpson from the role, alongside day-to-day running of the business, and replace him with Mr Evans. The decision by City of Wolverhampton Council is still under appeal with magistrates.

The latest call for review by West Midlands Police said: “This event had the prohibited breed of XL bullies in attendance, and as per the highly publicised legislation there are strict rules governing these dogs, particularly whilst in public. 

“One of these laws is that all XL bullies are required to be muzzled when in public. At this public and family event […] there were XL bullies not muzzled. Even more concerning, there were unmuzzled XL bullies in close proximity to young children. 

“There are also concerns regarding the documentation kept in relation to incidents at the premises, which appear inconsistent and incomplete. 

“The designated premises supervisor Nathan Thakar was not even aware that this event was held on this date. The correspondence from [Mr Thakar] is also lacking when asking for more information regarding events.

"There is a distinct lack of information provided to West Midlands Police around risk events, such as dog shows that will have prohibited breeds present, and mixed adult and juvenile events. 

“There are serious concerns regarding this premises’ ability to protect the public, and the failure to sufficiently inform police licensing of the events they choose to hold, so that sufficient risk assessments can be made and mitigation implemented.”

In a letter to the council, legal representative Savannah Courtenay from Flint Bishop “strongly objected” to the review saying it would be “improper” as the dog shows did not fall “within the scope of licensable activities” and “out the [council’s] remit.”

“Our primary position remains that the dog show in question is not a licensable activity and, as such, should not be considered under this review,” the letter said. “The event falls outside the remit of licensable activities, and therefore should not be processed through the licensing review process.”

New laws brought in last February following a rise in attacks and deaths, added XL bullies to the list of banned dogs, making it a criminal offence to own them without an exemption certificate. This required the dog to be chipped, neutered and insured but also meant XL bullies had to be muzzled and on a lead in public places at all times. Government guidance was published to help identify XL bullies, which are not recognised as a specific breed.

They are described as large dogs “with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for [their] size.”

When the previous government announced the XL bully ban in late 2023, it said the dog had been “disproportionately involved” in deaths recorded since 2021.

A report, which will be discussed by the council’s licensing committee, shows the concerns from the city’s public health and licensing officers.Public health officers said: “Such disregard for safety protocols undermines public health priorities and heightens risk, particularly to children and families.”

City of Wolverhampton Council’s licensing department added: “The evidence shows both the licence holder and premises supervisor were aware of their licensing conditions and this is a repeated and blatant disregard for public safety by them and the management.”