One postcode in east London has 75 approved applications for certificates of exemption to keep an XL Bully dog.

Data from a Freedom of Information request by The Spectator showed that the RM3 postcode – covering Harold Wood, Harold Hill, Noak Hill– had the most exemptions in east London (75).

This means that the area has the 117th most approved applications to keep an XL Bully dog out of 2,424 postcodes in England and Wales.

After a number of high-profile serious attacks across the UK, it became a criminal offence to own or possess an XL Bully dog in England and Wales on December 31 last year.

People can still apply for a certificate of exemption to keep an XL Bully dog they already own.

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.

There were six other postcodes in east London that had 50 or more approved applications.

Postcode E4 - Chingford, Sewardstone, Highams Park - had 68 approved applications.

The same number have been approved in RM8 – Dagenham and Becontree Heath.

A total of 61 exemptions have been approved in E16 - Silvertown, North Woolwich, Canning Town, Custom House, London City Airport.

Postcode RM9 – Dagenham and Becontree – had 58 approved applications.

A total of 50 exemptions have been granted in E17 - Walthamstow and Upper Walthamstow.

The same number have been approved in E14 - Poplar, Isle of Dogs, Limehouse, Canary Wharf, Blackwall, Cubitt Town.

Despite high numbers of exemptions in some east London postcodes, other areas have seen fewer than 10 approved applications.

These postcodes include IG2 – Gants Hill and Newbury Park– and E20 – Olympic Park and Stratford.