Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to outline plans on Monday to amend a 1971 law that currently prevents the deportation of Rochdale grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed. Ahmed was released from prison on July 2 after serving 14 years of a 19-year sentence for rape and sexual offences against girls as young as 12.
Legal Loophole and Proposed Changes
The 1971 law prohibits the removal of certain Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK more than 50 years ago. Mahmood is expected to detail a way to close this loophole in the Immigration Act, which has blocked Ahmed's deportation even though his British citizenship has been revoked. It remains unclear whether the changes will be introduced as separate fast-tracked legislation or as an amendment to the Immigration and Asylum Bill, which is due for debate in the Commons on Monday. A Home Office minister indicated last week that the government could consider emergency legislation.
Diplomatic Challenges
However, Pakistan is unlikely to accept Ahmed, according to the Press Association. Reports last week suggested that Pakistan is demanding the extradition of two political dissidents from the UK in exchange for taking Ahmed back. Downing Street stated that the UK is “exploring every available option” including discussions with Pakistani authorities. Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said on Thursday: “Any removal requires co-operation from another country to accept an individual back. Previous governments have experienced similar challenges in other grooming gang cases.”
