Labour Members of Parliament are calling for a significant expansion of geographical restrictions placed on Shabir Ahmed, a convicted leader of a Rochdale grooming gang. The MPs, representing areas where Ahmed committed his offenses, have urged Justice Secretary David Lammy to extend an existing exclusion zone to encompass the entirety of North West England and Yorkshire. They expressed concerns in a letter to Lammy that Ahmed remains an "unrepentant risk to society" and highlighted worries about the "lack of any meaningful reform in Ahmed’s attitudes or character."
Ahmed, 73, was released from prison on July 2 after serving 14 years for rape and sexual offenses against minors. He is currently residing in a supervised bail hostel and must wear an electronic GPS tag. He is prohibited from returning to his last known address in Oldham and is subject to an exclusion zone that currently restricts him from parts of Rochdale. The MPs argue that these initial restrictions are insufficient given Ahmed's potential network of associates and the ongoing risk he poses.
Simultaneously, government ministers are reportedly scrambling to find a legal pathway to deport Ahmed from the United Kingdom. Ahmed has been stripped of his British citizenship, leaving him with only Pakistani nationality. However, his deportation is complicated by a 1971 law that prevents the removal of certain Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK over 50 years ago. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to propose amendments to this law on Monday to facilitate his removal.
Deportation efforts face further hurdles, as reports suggest Pakistan is unlikely to accept Ahmed, claiming he has renounced his Pakistani citizenship. There are also suggestions that Pakistan is demanding the extradition of two political dissidents from the UK in exchange for taking Ahmed back.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the government is exploring all available options, including discussions with Pakistani authorities, but acknowledged the complexity of the case with both domestic and international implications. The spokesperson noted that any removal requires cooperation from another country and that previous governments have encountered similar challenges.
Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticized the government's approach, calling it "total weakness" and a "humiliation." He asserted that countries refusing to repatriate their criminals should face visa sanctions and a withdrawal of foreign aid, stating that "vile rapists and paedophiles who come here from overseas should all be deported."