The postcodes with the most XL Bullies in south London

New data has highlighted the areas in south London where applications for certificates of exemption to keep XL Bullies have been approved.

Data from a Freedom of Information request by The Spectator shows that the CR0 postcode, covering Croydon, Addiscombe, Shirley, Addington, New Addington, Forestdale and Waddon, has the highest number of approved applications for XL Bully dogs in the whole of the UK.

The CR0 postcode had 219 approvals, ranking 1st out of 2,424 postcodes overall.

The second south London postcode on the list is SE18, which covers Plumstead and Woolwich.

SE18 was ranked at number 16 in the UK, with 133 approved applications for XL Bullies.

SE9, which covers Eltham, Mottingham, New Eltham, Falconwood, Chinbrook, Longlands and Kidbrooke, was the third-highest south London postcode on the list.

SE9 came in at number 28 with 113 applications to keep XL Bullies approved.

The BR1 postcode was the fourth highest south London postcode, which came in at number 82 with 86 XL Bully applications approved.

BR1 covers Bromley, Bickley and Downham.

The fifth-highest south London postcode with 75 approved applications and coming in at number 138 in the UK was CR4, which covers Mitcham and Beddington Corner.

The DA1 postcode, which covers Dartford, Crayford and Barnes Cray, had 70 approvals, ranking 138th out of 2,424 postcodes overall.

The seventh south London postcode on the list is DA8, which covers Erith, Northumberland Heath, Slade Green.

DA8 ranked at number 163, with 66 approved applications for XL Bullies.

BR5, which covers Orpington, St Mary Cray, and Petts Wood, was the eighth-highest south London postcode on the list.

BR5 came in at number 170 with 65 applications to keep XL Bullies approved.

The SW16 postcode was the ninth highest south London postcode, which came in at number 285 with 52 XL Bully applications approved.

SW16 covers Streatham, Norbury, Thornton Heath, Streatham Park, Furzedown, Streatham Vale, and Pollards Hill.

The tenth-highest south London postcode with 49 approved applications and coming in at number 318 was SM5, which covers Carshalton, Carshalton Beeches, Carshalton on the Hill, The Wrythe, Carshalton Village, Eastern St Helier and Middleton Circle.

In England and Wales, it is a criminal offence to own or possess an XL Bully dog without a valid Certificate of Exemption.

It is also illegal to sell, abandon, or give away an XL Bully dog.

Letting it roam freely, breeding it or using it for breeding, or having it in public without a leash is also a criminal offence.