Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has declared that 'nothing is off the table' in efforts to deport Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang, as the 73-year-old is released from prison on July 2, 2026, after serving 14 years. Victims have been informed that Ahmed cannot be deported to Pakistan despite having his British citizenship revoked, sparking outrage and fear for their safety.
Burnham Calls for Government Action
Writing on X, Burnham stated: 'Like everyone, I want this vile criminal out of the country. Victims must come first.' He added: 'I will ask the Home and Foreign Secretaries to review all possible options – and they should consider nothing is off the table.' This follows his 2022 call as mayor for the then-Tory government to use all powers to deport grooming gang members.
In the House of Lords, Baroness Falkner of Margravine, former chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, argued that legislation should be amended. She said: 'I think the minister will not be surprised to hear me refer to the case of Shabir Ahmed who we're told cannot be deported because of an immigration law passed more than 55 years ago in a different context. So I ask the minister a simple question. Will they pass an amendment to that law so that they can follow the law and the will of the people as exists now, that very serious offenders who are not British citizens are not welcome in this country and should be deported?'
Victims' Fears and Legal Hurdles
Justice minister Lord Timpson confirmed that Ahmed will be released on licence with 'substantial and robust licence conditions... with a recall option as well, and he will know that the eyes of the state will be on him 24 hours a day.' However, victims remain terrified. One victim, known as 'Ruby,' receiving support from The Maggie Oliver Foundation, said: 'I'm scared for my safety and my kids' safety. The main ringleader is getting out of prison, who is well known in Rochdale, Oldham and Middleton, so even if he's not in that area, he still knows people and has a chance to talk to people from that area and that makes me unsafe.'
Another victim provided a statement through Billy Howarth of Parents Against Grooming UK in Rochdale: 'The pending/recent release of Shabir Ahmed from prison has had a profound and debilitating impact on my life. I live in a constant state of hypervigilance, fearing for my physical safety every time I leave my home. This fear has caused severe anxiety, disrupted my sleep, and forced me to drastically alter my daily routines and social life simply to avoid a potential confrontation.'
Legal Obstacles to Deportation
Documents from the Probation Service confirm Ahmed cannot be deported to Pakistan due to provisions in the Immigration Act 1971, which prevent removal of individuals who arrived in the UK before 1973 and have resided here for at least five years. This has sparked profound outrage, intensifying pressure on the government, which announced a nationwide inquiry into grooming gangs earlier this year.
Ahmed, known to victims as 'Daddy,' was convicted in 2012 for multiple rape and sexual offences against girls as young as 12. Over two years from early 2008, victims were supplied with alcohol and drugs, gang-raped in rooms above takeaways, and transported between flats in taxis. Ahmed worked as a taxi driver and was employed by Oldham Council as a benefits rights worker. During his trial, he branded the judge a 'racist bastard' and appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. He received a 19-year sentence at Liverpool Crown Court, one of nine men convicted. Police said victims came from chaotic backgrounds, with up to 50 girls targeted. Judge Gerald Clifton stated victims were treated 'as though they were worthless.'
Comparable Cases and Government Response
Ahmed's case follows those of Qari Abdul Rauf and Adil Khan, who were stripped of British citizenship in 2022 after a legal battle. Both invoked Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights to avoid deportation. The Home Office declined to confirm if they have been deported. A Home Office spokeswoman said: 'Our thoughts are first and foremost with the victims of these appalling crimes. On his release he will be on the sex offenders register for life, ordered to stay away from his victims and banned from contacting any child or young person. As well as facing strict curfews and restriction zones, his every movement will be tracked, forced to wear an electronic tag. Should he breach his conditions, he will be immediately locked up.'
