UK government will change law so grooming gang ringleader can be deported
The BBC has been told the home secretary will change the law so the freed ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang can be deported.
Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce on Monday how she plans to amend the Immigration Act 1971, which prevented Shabir Ahmed from being removed from the UK, as first reported by the Telegraph.
Ahmed, 73, was sentenced to 22 years in prison in August 2012 for a series of sexual offenses against children, including rape. He was released on license last week.
Ahmed, known as “Dad” to his victims, held dual British-Pakistani citizenship but was stripped of this citizenship following his conviction in 2012.
At the time of his release, his victims were told they could not be deported to Pakistan due to the 55-year-old Immigration Act, which bans the deportation of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1973 and have been in the country for five years.
After being released from prison, Ahmed was sent to 24-hour staff accommodation and fitted with a tag that was electronically monitored via GPS.
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