Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to announce a change in the law on Monday that will allow the deportation of Shabir Ahmed, the Pakistan-born ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang, following his release from prison. Ahmed, 73, was released on licence last week after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offences.
Legal Loophole Identified
Under the 1971 Immigration Act, Ahmed cannot currently be deported to Pakistan because he arrived in Britain before 1973 and has lived in the UK for at least five years. The Home Secretary plans to close this loophole, according to reports in The Telegraph, ensuring that individuals stripped of British citizenship can be removed. The move has been praised by Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and a potential future Prime Minister, who said: "Correct decision, well done."
Details of the Offences
Ahmed was convicted in 2012 at Liverpool Crown Court for 30 child rape offences, having treated one victim as a "possession" for his own sexual gratification. He was the head of a gang that abused girls as young as 12 in the Heywood area of Rochdale, using two takeaway restaurants as bases. Known to his victims as "Daddy," Ahmed held dual British-Pakistani citizenship but was stripped of his British citizenship following his conviction. Pakistani officials have stated that Ahmed and other grooming gang ringleaders previously renounced their Pakistani citizenship.
Challenges to Deportation
Despite the planned law change, the Government faces challenges. Pakistan has so far refused to accept Ahmed back, and there is no current agreement in place for his return. A source told The Telegraph: "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." It is not known how long the legislative change will take, but a government source suggested to the BBC it could be up to a year.
Ahmed's Release and Conditions
Ahmed was freed from HMP Leeds last Thursday despite three failed parole attempts, most recently in October 2024. A document from a 2023 review noted that Ahmed posed a "high risk of sexual offending." Some victims expressed fear and feeling "unsafe" upon his release. He is now living in 24-hour staffed accommodation, fitted with a GPS electronically monitored tag, and subject to strict licence conditions including exclusion zones, a curfew, and sex offender register requirements.
Impact on Other Commonwealth Citizens
The Government has indicated that the law change will not affect the right to remain of other Commonwealth citizens, such as the Windrush migrants from the Caribbean. The amendment is specifically targeted at individuals like Ahmed who have been stripped of citizenship and pose a public risk.
