Rochdale's community is bracing itself for the release of Shabir Ahmed, the 73-year-old convicted ringleader of the notorious grooming gang. Despite being stripped of his British citizenship in 2012 following a guilty verdict on multiple counts of rape and sexual offences against young girls, the Government faces an unexpected hurdle in deporting him: a 1971 law that predates modern immigration regulations.
Ahmed, who was given the nickname "Daddy" by his victims, held dual British-Pakistani citizenship. He was sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment at Liverpool Crown Court and will be subject to stringent licence conditions upon release, including 24/7 supervised accommodation and an exclusion zone preventing him from entering Rochdale, a decision welcomed by local authorities.
The reason for the Government's inability to deport Ahmed stems from the Immigration Act 1971. According to documents reportedly from the Probation Service, obtained online by one of his victims, this legislation provides specific protections for individuals who arrived in the UK before 1973 and resided here for at least five years prior to any deportation proceedings. As Ahmed's arrival predates 1973, he falls under these provisions.
Politicians have reacted strongly to this development. Paul Waugh, MP for Rochdale, echoed his constituents' sentiments when speaking to The Daily Telegraph: "The people of Rochdale want him booted out of the country, and it's simply unacceptable that the government of Pakistan are refusing to take him back." He urged ministers to consider amending the Citizenship Act if necessary to facilitate deportations. In 2022, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, also called on the Conservative government to utilise all available powers to deport grooming gang members.
Ahmed's situation mirrors similar legal challenges faced by other Rochdale gang members, including Qari Abdul Rauf and Adil Khan, who were stripped of their British citizenship in 2022. They cited Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, concerning the right to private and family life, as grounds for avoiding deportation. The Home Office has not confirmed whether Rauf or Khan have since been deported.
The original trial in 2012 saw nine men convicted for offences against five girls, though police at the time estimated that up to 50 girls may have been victims of the gang's abuse. Judge Gerald Clifton described the victims as being treated "as though they were worthless," highlighting the profound impact on their lives.
A subsequent report into the case highlighted "serious multiple failures" by Greater Manchester Police and local authorities in addressing concerns raised about the gang's activities, a conclusion that has been widely accepted by the community.