Shocking moment locals TURN on police for seizing 'vicious' XL Bully dog who mauled a security guard seconds before - as its owner is arrested

This is the shocking moment locals turned on police for seizing a 'vicious' XL Bully dog after it attacked a security guard. 

The unnamed dog owner had been refused entry into a store at Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester on Saturday when his dog bit the member of staff, police said. 

Members of the public were seen outraged as the police led the animal away and arrested a man for allowing it to be dangerously out of control in a public place and causing injury.

Police have said that he has since been released on bail and the dog has been taken to a 'place of safety'. The security guard sustained an injury to his arm and leg and was discharged from hospital after treatment.

Footage shows a group of people swearing at police officers as they surrounded the brown XL Bully before taking it away. 

An officer can be heard reassuring one woman: 'We're doing everything we can to keep everybody safe.'

The woman points at an upset young boy who appears to be with the owner and asks the officer: 'If that was your child, what would you do?'

The camera then cuts to the owner attempting to calm down the anxious dog as onlookers tell police to 'leave the dog alone'.

One officer can be seen trying to get a control pole around the dog's neck before the pet jumps in an attempt to escape the restraint.

The person filming walks closer to the dog before an officer warns them to 'get back' and to 'stop swearing'.

He adds: 'The dog is not going to come to any harm, okay?'

The video shows the owner appearing to plead with the officers, who appear to have successfully restrained the dog. But it yelps and tries to throw the noose from its neck as onlookers scream in anger.

The officers can then be seen escorting the man away as a boy walks behind them in tears.

The person filming then shouts out: 'So, you're arresting him as well? Disgusting, the lot of you.'

The footage was posted on social media yesterday with the caption: 'Can I just come on here to say the dog had apparently bit a security guard. The security guard was fine.

'A man was arrested today for his XL Bully ''attacking'' a security guard. With his child next to him sobbing his heart out, because these police officers were taking his family dog away. 

'The dog got noosed away from his owners. With eight police officers there for a ''violent dog''. The dog was so calm, as you can see in the video, police pointing tasers at the poor dog.'

The post received over 45,900 likes and more than 4,490 comments from users left divided by the distressing footage.

One person wrote: 'Notice how much stress the police were putting on this dog and it still didn't do anything. I've met nicer XL Bullies than I have Jack Russells.'

Another said: 'A muzzle on the dog would have solved a lot of problems. I don't condone this behaviour, but he knew XL Bullies are soon to be banned.'

A third commented: 'The general public did not help this situation - screaming and shouting. That poor little boy. Hopefully the situation has been sorted.'

A fourth added: 'XL Bullies need to hurry up and become illegal, they're fighting dogs anyway, no matter the owner. They're always going to be aggressive.'

It will be illegal to own an American bully XL in England and Wales from February 1 2024, with the ban being introduced in response to several attacks involving the breed.

Owners can apply to have their pets exempt from the crackdown - which means they would have to pay £92.40 for a certificate and the dog would need to be microchipped and neutered, among other rules.

The second option would be to have their dogs put down, with the government offering £200 in compensation to these owners.

It follows a spate of recent fatal and horrific attacks involving the breed. 

Leicestershire Police said: 'It has come to our attention that a number of videos and posts have been published on social media in relation to an incident in the city centre [on Saturday] where a man was detained and a XL Bully dog was seized.

'Prior to this incident officers were called to the Highcross Shopping Centre around 12:30pm after a security guard was bitten by a dog when the owner was refused entry into a shop.

'The owner subsequently left the scene and was detained in Silver Street with his dog.

'He was arrested on suspicion of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place and causing injury. He has since been released on bail pending further enquiries.

'The XL Bully was seized by officers and taken to a place of safety. The security guard sustained an injury to his arm and leg and was discharged from hospital after treatment.

'His injuries are not believed to be serious. Enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the incident.'