Lead

The UK government is in talks with Pakistan over the possibility of deporting Shabir Ahmed, the leader of the Rochdale grooming gang, according to reports. Ahmed, who holds dual British-Pakistani citizenship, was released from prison this week after his 2012 conviction on multiple counts of rape and sexual offences against girls.

British officials have told his victims that Ahmed cannot currently be deported because of a law dating from 1971. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has asked the home secretary to review the case following calls for Ahmed's deportation.

Coverage comparison

Reports from Dawn and The Guardian — World, both citing the BBC, detail the UK government's diplomatic efforts and the legal obstacles to deportation. The Guardian — World articles emphasize concerns within the local community, quoting figures who say the release is "really scary" for women and girls due to perceived weaknesses in the probation service and Ahmed's apparent lack of remorse. Dawn's coverage focuses more on the government's statements and the legal framework.

The reports agree that Ahmed has been released and is subject to strict licence conditions, including living in 24-hour staffed accommodation and wearing an electronic GPS tag. There are minor discrepancies in the reported length of his sentence: one report states he was jailed for 19 years, while another gives the figure as 22 years.

Key claims

  • Shabir Ahmed, 73, was convicted in 2012 of multiple counts of rape and sexual offences against girls. He was known to his victims as "Daddy" and was described as the ringleader of a gang that abused five girls as young as 12, plying them with alcohol and drugs.
  • Ahmed cannot be deported to Pakistan under provisions in the Immigration Act 1971, which prevent the removal of individuals who arrived in the UK before 1973 and had lived in the country for at least five years before deportation was considered.
  • The UK government is in talks with Pakistan over Ahmed's deportation. A spokesperson for the prime minister's office said, "We have raised this issue with our counterparts in Islamabad and we are committed to doing everything possible to deport foreign national offenders, and we're clear that they should have no place in this country."
  • Prime Minister Keir Starmer has asked the home secretary to review Ahmed's case.
  • Andy Burnham, the Labour MP and mayor, has called for Ahmed to be deported. In 2022, he urged the then-government to "do everything within its power to deport grooming gang members." More recently, he said his government would explore "all possible options" to close the legal loophole.
  • Ahmed was released on 2 July and is living in 24-hour staffed accommodation, monitored with an electronic GPS tag. He is subject to an exclusion zone centred on Rochdale. The Home Office said any breach of his licence conditions would result in his immediate return to prison.
  • Ahmed was stripped of his British citizenship after his conviction, but his dual nationality means Pakistan could be a destination for deportation if agreement is reached.

Perspectives

UK government: The government is committed to deporting foreign national offenders and is working across government to explore all possible options in this case. It acknowledges that the agreement of the receiving country is required and that the case is complex.

Andy Burnham (Labour MP and mayor): Burnham has long called for Ahmed's deportation and this week said he would explore all possible options to close the legal loophole preventing it. He described the situation as a priority, reflecting public concern in Rochdale.

Sara Rowbotham (former health worker who exposed the gang): Rowbotham, whose team gathered evidence that led to the imprisonment of Ahmed and eight other men, expressed fear over Ahmed's release, saying she is "terrified" by the prospect of meeting him in the street. She questioned the strength of probation monitoring, citing de-investment in the service.

Paul Waugh (Labour MP for Rochdale): Waugh called on ministers to consider amending the Immigration Act to facilitate Ahmed's removal, saying "The people of Rochdale want him booted out of the country."