The potential deportation of Shabir Ahmed, the leader of a notorious Rochdale grooming gang, has become a significant political issue in the UK, with calls for all available measures to be considered. Andy Burnham, a prominent figure in the Labour Party, has stated that "nothing is off the table" regarding Ahmed's removal from the country.
Ahmed, 73, is scheduled for release from prison on Thursday after serving 14 years of a conviction for multiple rape and sexual offenses against young girls. Despite his crimes, victims have been informed that he cannot be deported to Pakistan due to his dual British-Pakistani citizenship and his arrival in the UK before 1973. He was stripped of his British citizenship following his conviction.
Burnham, who is expected to assume a leadership role within the Labour party, indicated he would urge senior ministers to review all possible avenues for deportation. He expressed a desire to see the "vile criminal" out of the country, emphasizing that "victims must come first." He stated, "I will ask the home and foreign secretaries to review all possible options - and they should consider nothing is off the table."
This situation has exacerbated existing anger in communities and among victims over the perceived failure to deport members of grooming gangs. In 2012, Sir Keir Starmer, then Director of Public Prosecutions, oversaw the prosecution of the gang. However, legal challenges have previously prevented the deportation of other convicted gang members, including Abdul Aziz, who successfully fought deportation to Pakistan on human rights grounds.
Justice minister Jake Richards acknowledged the long-standing difficulties in deporting foreign national offenders to Pakistan, describing the prospect in Ahmed's case as "unlikely." He also indicated that changing the law to allow retrospective deportations would be "very difficult." However, Richards assured that the case of this specific individual was being closely examined to ensure the safety of victims and the community upon Ahmed's release.
Victims have expressed profound fear for their safety and that of their children. One victim, identified as 'Ruby,' voiced her anxiety about the ringleader's release, noting his connections within the Rochdale and surrounding areas. She described feeling left to "fend for themselves" due to a lack of support from authorities.
Documents suggest that provisions within the Immigration Act 1971, specifically concerning individuals who arrived in the UK before 1973 and have resided there for at least five years, are preventing Ahmed's deportation. A national inquiry into grooming gangs was announced earlier this year amid mounting criticism of the government's handling of such cases.
The Home Office has condemned Ahmed's crimes as "appalling" and stated he will be subject to strict license conditions upon release, including 24/7 supervised accommodation and an exclusion zone centered on Rochdale. Ahmed was among nine men convicted in 2012 for offenses against five girls, though police estimated as many as 50 girls may have been victims. The judge presiding over the case noted that victims were treated as "worthless" due to not belonging to the gang's community or religion, a finding that Greater Manchester Police at the time stated had no "racial or cultural" element. Subsequent reports revealed significant failures by police and local authorities in addressing concerns raised prior to the convictions.