Two arrested in Barnstaple in illegal dog breeding inquiry 29 March 2013 Last updated at 10:51 Two people have been arrested in Devon on suspicion of breeding illegal pit bull-type dogs. Police officers seized four dogs during an operation in the Newport area of Barnstaple. A police spokesman said a man in his 50s and a woman in her 40s were assisting them with inquiries. Pit bulls are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act unless the owner gets a special court order and complies with safety rules. Once a dog has been identified as a pit bull-type, it can be returned under the order of a court if it is not considered a danger to the public. Safety regulations include the pit bull being micro chipped, tattooed, insured, neutered, muzzled in public, kept on a lead and held by someone aged 16 or over. Det Insp Praveen Naidoo said: "Dangerous dog breeds cause significant concern within the community and we will act positively when offences are suspected under this legislation."