Shabir Ahmed, the leader of the Rochdale grooming gang convicted of 30 child rapes, is being released from prison after serving 14 years of a 19-year sentence. His impending release from HMP Leeds on Thursday, and subsequent placement in a bail hostel, has reignited a controversy over the United Kingdom's ability to deport foreign national offenders.
Ahmed, 73, who held dual British-Pakistani citizenship, was stripped of his British citizenship following his 2012 conviction for multiple rapes and sexual offenses against young girls, some as young as 13. Despite this, the government maintains it lacks the legal authority to deport him to Pakistan. He acquired British citizenship through naturalization after moving to the UK from Pakistan approximately 50 years ago. Ahmed has four children living in the UK and has previously fought deportation by citing human rights laws and the potential impact on his children's welfare.
Victims of Ahmed and his associates have expressed fear for their safety and criticized authorities for what they describe as false promises and a lack of support. One victim, identified as 'Ruby,' voiced concerns about the ringleader's release, stating that even if he is not in the immediate area, his knowledge of people in Rochdale, Oldham, and Middleton makes her feel unsafe.
Andy Burnham, a senior political figure, has stated his intention to urge ministers to explore all possible avenues for Ahmed's deportation. Burnham, who previously called on the government to deport grooming gang members, tweeted that "Victims must come first" and that all options should be considered.
Justice minister Jake Richards acknowledged long-standing difficulties in deporting foreign national offenders to Pakistan, suggesting that a successful deportation in this specific case is unlikely. He noted the complexity of changing laws retrospectively to facilitate deportation. The Home Office confirmed that Ahmed's crimes were "appalling" and that he will be subject to stringent license conditions upon release, including 24/7 supervised accommodation and an exclusion zone centered on Rochdale.
The legal basis preventing Ahmed's deportation is understood to stem from provisions within the Immigration Act 1971. These provisions can bar the removal of 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. Police estimated that as many as 50 girls may have been victims of the gang. At the time of sentencing, the judge noted that victims were treated as "worthless and beyond any respect" due to perceived differences in community or religion, though Greater Manchester Police stated at the time that the crimes had no "racial or cultural" element. A subsequent report identified "serious multiple failures" by police and local authorities in their handling of concerns raised prior to the convictions. A national inquiry into grooming gangs was announced earlier this year amid ongoing criticism of the government's response to such cases.