Wolverhampton named one of the worst cities in the UK for dog attacks

New research has revealed the UK areas where people are most likely to experience or witness a dog bite.

Wolverhampton has been named as one of the worst UK cities for dog attacks.

The study, conducted by Injury Lawyers 4u, found 52% of people in Wolverhampton either witnessed or experienced a dog attack in the past 12 months.

Cardiff was found to be the worst, with more than half of respondents in Cardiff (54%) saying that they have either been bitten by a dog themselves or witnessed a dog attack.

The findings come as Freedom of Information (FOI) data obtained by Injury Lawyers 4u reveals police-recorded dangerous dog offences have risen by 80 percent across the UK since 2020.

The FOI data uncovers several major dangerous dog hotspots, with West Midlands Police recording the highest number of dangerous dog offences nationally in 2025 with 1,324 incidents.

This was followed by Devon & Cornwall at 1,259 recorded incidents, Thames Valley at 1,112, West Yorkshire at 1,105 and South Yorkshire at 1,087.

According to the survey, attacks are most likely to take place in public settings, with almost a third of incidents occurring in the street, followed by someone else’s home at 24 percent and public parks at 23 percent.

The rise in incidents appears to be reshaping public behaviour.

More than two in five Brits say they now feel less safe around dogs in public than they did five years ago, while over a third admit they actively avoid certain public spaces due to concerns around dangerous dogs.

Andrew Twambley, founder and specialist personal injury lawyer at Injury Lawyers 4u, said: “Dog attacks are no longer isolated incidents happening behind closed doors. Increasingly, they are occurring in streets, parks and other public spaces.

“What is particularly concerning is how many people now say they actively avoid certain areas because of fears around dangerous dogs.

“Dog owners have a legal responsibility to ensure their animals are properly controlled at all times. When that responsibility is ignored, there can be serious consequences.”