Fury as Rochdale grooming gang rapist cannot be legally deported | UK | News
Anger has grown over the imminent release of a convicted child sex offender linked to the Rochdale grooming gang scandal, who cannot be deported from the UK despite being stripped of his British citizenship.
Shabir Ahmed, 73, will be released from prison on Thursday after serving part of a total sentence of more than 40 years for rape and sexual crimes against children.
The case reignited criticism of immigration and sentencing rules after it emerged legal provisions prevented him from being deported from the country even though his citizenship had been revoked.
The Express understands he will instead remain in the UK under strict monitoring regulations, including lifetime inclusion on the sex offenders’ register, electronic tagging, curfews and exclusion zones.
Authorities say the person’s movements will be strictly controlled and that any violation of the conditions will result in immediate detention.
A Home Office spokesman said: “Our thoughts are first and foremost with the victims of these terrible crimes.
“Ahmed’s horrific crimes were at the heart of the grooming gang scandal that represented one of the darkest moments in our country’s history. The most vulnerable people were abused and exploited at the hands of evil child rapists and were forced to face the full force of the law.
“Once released he will be on the sex offenders register for life, ordered to stay away from his victims and banned from contact with any children or young people.
“In addition to facing strict curfews and restriction zones, his every movement will be tracked and he will be forced to wear an electronic tag. If he violates his conditions, he will be locked up immediately.”
The legal hurdle preventing his deportation stems from the Immigration Act 1971, which exempts some Commonwealth citizens who entered the UK before 1973 from deportation, The Telegraph reported.
Ahmed falls into this category despite being originally from Pakistan, meaning he is currently ineligible for removal despite losing his British citizenship while serving his sentence.
The release arrangements were confirmed by correspondence sent directly to one of his victims, setting out license conditions including the Rochdale exclusion zone and 24-hour supervised accommodation.
The letter also confirms that if he leaves the country he will be banned from re-entering the UK.
The extent of supervision required means probation services and the Ministry of Justice will oversee extensive monitoring measures after release.
Three years ago it emerged that Ahmed had previously worked as a benefits officer at Oldham Council. A subsequent investigation found that despite concerns being raised, police did not provide information about his arrest for child sexual offences.
Inspectors concluded there had been “a number of serious failings” by Greater Manchester Police and the local authority, adding that earlier disclosure could have prevented further abuse.
This case mirrors that of other Rochdale grooming gang leaders, including Qari Abdul Rauf and Adil Khan, who were jailed in 2012.
Both men have been stripped of their UK citizenship but cannot be deported to Pakistan as they have renounced their Pakistani citizenship.
Negotiations between UK and Pakistani officials regarding their return have been ongoing for more than a year but have failed to reach any conclusion.
Rauf and Khan were part of a nine-man grooming gang convicted of sexually assaulting 47 girls over two years in Rochdale. The victims were administered alcohol and drugs before being exploited.
After the case, political debates also intensified; Concerns have been raised about early release programs and safeguards for serious sexual offenders.
Labour’s former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has called on the Government to exclude child rapists from early release schemes planned for September.
He said exemptions should be introduced to ensure those convicted of the most serious sexual offenses against children are not released as early as possible.
The Conservative Party also criticized the plans, calling them “shameful” and demanded clarity from ministers on how many serious sex offenders could be affected and when they could be released.
