Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is planning to change the law to enable the deportation of Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang. The amendment to the 1971 Immigration Act aims to close a loophole that currently prevents Ahmed from being removed from Britain. However, the government still faces significant hurdles as Pakistan has so far refused to take Ahmed back.
Background on Shabir Ahmed
Ahmed, 73, was released from prison last week after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offences. He cannot be returned to Pakistan, despite having been stripped of his British citizenship. The Immigration Act exempts individuals like Ahmed from deportation if they came to Britain before 1973 and have lived in the UK for at least five years.
Planned Legislative Changes
Mahmood is expected to announce on Monday that officials have found a way to close the loophole without jeopardising the right to remain of other Commonwealth citizens, including the Windrush generation from the Caribbean. The announcement will coincide with the second reading of the immigration and asylum bill.
A government source stated: "We are confident that there is a fix to deal with the domestic side of it but it is now down to the FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] negotiations with Pakistan that will decide if [Ahmed] stays in the UK."
Political Reactions
Earlier on Wednesday, a junior Home Office minister indicated the government could consider emergency legislation to deport Ahmed. Tory former minister Robbie Moore, the MP for Keighley and Ilkley, told the Commons that changes to the law would likely receive cross-party support. Moore said: "When will the minister be bringing forward this legislation, so that we in this House can vote on it and make sure that this individual that has caused heinous crimes across Rochdale is deported?"
Home Office minister Alex Norris replied: "I can only be as clear as to say that all of those options are on the table. He raises important ways too. But it is never quite as easy, I think, as he’s put there. But I know of his motivations, I think I share them myself, and I’m sure at the right moment he’ll be keen to support us in our work."
Pakistan's Position
Pakistan has refused to take Ahmed and two other freed ringleaders of the Rochdale grooming gang back because they have renounced their Pakistani citizenship. All three have also been stripped of their British citizenship due to their crimes. The UK disputes that Ahmed renounced his citizenship decades ago, as Pakistani officials claim, pointing to evidence that he did not go through the full and proper process to disavow his birthright. A No 10 spokesperson confirmed that the issue has been raised with officials in Islamabad.
