A 55-year-old law is standing between the government and the deportation of one of Britain's most notorious grooming gang leaders. Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of the Rochdale child sexual exploitation gang, was released from prison on licence on July 2 2026 after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for multiple child sexual offences, including rape. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced plans to amend the Immigration and Asylum Bill to close what she calls a legal loophole that currently prevents Ahmed from being deported to Pakistan.
The law in question is Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971. It protects certain Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1973 and have lived here for at least five years from being deported. Ahmed, who had dual British-Pakistani citizenship (he was stripped of British citizenship after his conviction), arrived in the UK in the 1960s and therefore falls under this protection. Mahmood's proposed amendment would give the Home Secretary a new power to "disapply" Section 7 for serious criminals, including those convicted of terrorism, child sexual exploitation, or human trafficking. The power would be tied to the same threshold used to deprive someone of citizenship, which applies only in cases of exceptional severity.
“Explains the 1971 Immigration Act and the proposed change to allow deportation of serious Commonwealth criminals.”
This is not the first time the 1971 Act has caused controversy. The law was designed to protect long-term residents who had built lives in the UK, but critics argue it has been exploited by criminals. The case of Shabir Ahmed has brought it to the forefront of public debate. Ahmed was one of nine men convicted in 2012 for grooming and exploiting girls as young as 12 at takeaway restaurants in Rochdale and Oldham. His release sparked widespread anger, not least because his victims said they felt "frightened" and "unsafe".
For UK readers, this matters because it touches on a fundamental question: who should be allowed to stay in the country after committing serious crimes? The government argues that the 1971 Act is outdated and that public consent for the asylum and immigration system is "fraying". However, even if the law is changed, there is no guarantee Ahmed will be deported. Pakistan has indicated it is unlikely to accept him, and Ahmed claims to have renounced his Pakistani citizenship. The Home Office said it will continue to "explore all avenues", with ministers previously threatening visa penalties against countries that refuse to take back their nationals — a tactic that succeeded with Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Q: Why can't Shabir Ahmed be deported under current law? Because of Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971, which prevents the removal of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1973 and have been resident for at least five years. Ahmed arrived in the 1960s, so he qualifies for this protection.
Q: What does the government's amendment do? It would give the Home Secretary a new power to override Section 7 for serious criminals, such as those convicted of terrorism, child sexual exploitation, or human trafficking. The power is tied to the same threshold used to strip someone of citizenship, which applies only in the most exceptional cases.
Q: Could Ahmed still avoid deportation even after the law changes? Yes. Deportation requires Pakistan to accept him, and Islamabad has so far refused. Ahmed also claims to have renounced his Pakistani citizenship. The UK government is exploring visa restrictions and other diplomatic measures to pressure Pakistan into co-operation.
What happens next: The amendment will be tabled as part of the Immigration and Asylum Bill currently going through Parliament. The government expects it to become law, but the timeline is unclear — one source suggested it could take up to a year. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has called for emergency legislation to be introduced in September, which he says could change the law "in a matter of weeks". Meanwhile, Ahmed remains in the UK in 24-hour staffed accommodation, fitted with a GPS tag, and subject to strict licence conditions. If he breaches them, he can be returned to prison.
