Andy Burnham, a prospective prime minister, has stated that "nothing is off the table" as calls intensify to deport Shabir Ahmed, the leader of the Rochdale grooming gang, following his impending release from prison.
Ahmed, 73, is scheduled to be freed on Thursday after serving 14 years of his sentence for multiple rape and sexual offenses against young girls. Despite being convicted in 2012, victims have been informed that he cannot be deported to Pakistan. They have expressed concerns for their safety due to his release.
Ahmed holds dual British and Pakistani citizenship and was stripped of his British citizenship after his conviction. Burnham indicated he would urge senior ministers to explore all avenues for deportation, tweeting, "Like everyone, I want this vile criminal out of the country. Victims must come first. I will ask the home and foreign secretaries to review all possible options - and they should consider nothing is off the table."
In 2022, while serving as the mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham had previously called on the government to "do everything within [its] power" to deport grooming gang members. The inability to deport such offenders has reportedly caused significant anger within affected communities and among victims.
Justice minister Jake Richards acknowledged the ongoing challenges with deporting foreign national offenders to Pakistan, stating to the BBC's Politics Live, "We need to try and work on that and see whether it's possible, but in this case, it seems unlikely." He suggested that changing the law retrospectively would be very difficult.
Richards added that authorities are "absolutely looking at this individual and if he is to be released from prison, looking at what we are doing to ensure, firstly, to look after his victims and keeping the community safe." The Home Office confirmed that Ahmed's crimes were "appalling" and that he would be subject to strict license conditions upon release, including 24/7 supervised accommodation and an exclusion zone centered on Rochdale.
One victim, identified as 'Ruby,' voiced her fear for her safety and that of her children, noting that the "main ringleader is getting out of prison, who is well known in Rochdale, Oldham and Middleton." She also stated that victims have received "false promises" and insufficient support from authorities.
Documentation from the Probation Service reportedly indicates that Ahmed's deportation to Pakistan is barred under provisions of the Immigration Act 1971, which prohibit removal for individuals who arrived in the UK before 1973 and have resided there for at least five years prior to deportation proceedings.
Ahmed was one of nine men convicted in 2012 for offenses against five girls, though police suggested the gang may have victimized as many as 50 girls. At the time of the sentencing, the judge noted victims were treated as "worthless and beyond any respect" due to perceived differences in community or religion. Greater Manchester Police stated at the time that the crimes had no racial or cultural element. A subsequent report found "serious multiple failures" by police and local authorities in addressing concerns raised about the gang.