Grooming gang ringleader at centre of deportation row released
Ministers are reviewing legal options as victims say the convicted rapist cannot be deported under a 1971 law despite losing British citizenship.
- On Thursday, grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed was released on licence after serving 14 years, subject to an electronic GPS tag, staffed accommodation, and an "exclusion zone" banning him from parts of Rochdale.
- Although stripped of British citizenship, Ahmed cannot be deported under the Immigration Act 1971, which prohibits removal of Commonwealth citizens who arrived before 1973 and lived in the UK for at least five years, according to the Probation Service.
- Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is urging ministers to back an amendment to the Immigration and Asylum Bill "to close the loophole," while Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp suggested cutting foreign aid to Pakistan if it refuses to accept Ahmed.
- Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer asked Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to review deportation options, describing Ahmed's case as "particularly heinous," while likely successor Andy Burnham vowed to "review all possible options" for removal.
- Diplomatic hurdles persist as a Home Office source told The Times that Pakistan's agreement to accept Ahmed is "highly unlikely," while the government explores legislative changes to the Immigration and Asylum Bill to resolve the standoff.
25 Articles
25 Articles
He called himself "Daddy" and led the grooming gang that raped girls in the city. The government wanted to deport him, but now he's back on the streets because of a loophole in the law. The British are furious and talk of self-defense.
The papable future British premier against the head of the immigrant gang who abused dozens of girls
Grooming gang ringleader was deemed too dangerous to be released from jail four YEARS ago
The leader of a Rochdale grooming gang ring was considered too dangerous to be released from prison just four years ago.GB News understands Shabir Ahmed, 73, was released from prison on Thursday, after serving 14 years since his conviction in 2012 for multiple rape and sexual offences against young girls.His release has caused uproar due to the fact he is unable to be deported back to Pakistan due to a 1971 law that forbids the removal of a smal…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
