The recent release of Shabir Ahmed, the 73-year-old ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang, to a halfway house in Accrington, Lancashire, has ignited significant controversy and a diplomatic dispute with Pakistan.
Ahmed was jailed in 2012 for numerous rape and child-sex offenses. He was sentenced to 19 years for leading a group that abused 47 girls and an additional 22 years for abusing another girl over many years. Under the UK's Criminal Justice Act of 2003, serious offenders not given life sentences are mandated for release after serving half of their custodial term. Although this tariff was increased to two-thirds in 2020, it remained mandatory, allowing Ahmed to be released from HMP Wakefield on July 2.
Highfield House, the 'approved premises' where Ahmed is currently housed, is a large Victorian mansion on the edge of a nature reserve. It accommodates high-risk male offenders released from prison. Previous residents have included other notable sex offenders and criminals.
The British government wishes to deport Ahmed to Pakistan, his country of birth. However, Pakistan has refused, stating that Ahmed is a 'foreigner' who renounced his citizenship years ago. Pakistan's foreign minister noted that the UK is where Ahmed "grew up, was raised, groomed and, unfortunately, spoiled."
Local political figures have expressed strong opposition to Ahmed's placement. Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, called for all options to be considered for his removal from the country. The local Member of Parliament, Sarah Smith, stated that Ahmed's release would "bring back unimaginable trauma" to his victims and called for him to be deported immediately, advocating for a wider exclusion zone that would prevent his placement in Lancashire or the North-West.
Further complicating the situation is a loophole in the 1971 Immigration Act, which prevents the removal of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1973. Adding to the public frustration, it was revealed that the government has approved a £153 million aid package to Pakistan, despite the country's refusal to accept Ahmed, thereby relinquishing potential leverage.
Community leaders in Accrington have also voiced outrage. Kamran Mahmood, General Secretary of the Ghausia Rizvia mosque, expressed significant distress, fear, and anger within the community, highlighting parental concerns for children's safety and the potential for rising community tensions.
Ahmed's modus operandi involved grooming vulnerable white working-class teenagers, often sourcing victims from school gates and offering them free food before plying them with drugs and alcohol for abuse. His placement in Accrington, a town with similar deprived neighborhoods to those he preyed upon in Rochdale, has caused particular alarm among victims and their advocates, including former police officer Maggie Oliver.
Ahmed's past behavior in court and prison has also drawn scrutiny. During his trials, he made numerous unrepentant and often offensive remarks, blaming victims and authorities. He appealed to the European Court of Justice, claiming his convictions were part of a conspiracy against Muslims. In prison, he was involved in an assault on a fellow inmate and later appointed as an 'equalities representative' for Muslim inmates, a role that has been questioned.
Concerns about Ahmed's presence at Highfield House intensified when local residents noticed increased security and rumors circulated online. A small group of demonstrators gathered at the premises, and Ahmed was reportedly moved to an undisclosed location by police.
Shabir Ahmed's conviction stemmed from crimes exposed in trials that revealed the gang treated teenage girls as "worthless and beyond any respect." The gang's activities continued for years under the notice of local authorities, with critics suggesting a reluctance to intervene due to fears of exacerbating racial tensions. Ahmed, who previously worked as a welfare rights officer for Oldham Council, was able to orchestrate his crimes with a degree of impunity.