Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang who abused girls as young as 12, is expected to be released from prison this week — and Andy Burnham, the man widely expected to become prime minister on 20 July, has promised to pursue his deportation with “nothing off the table”.
Ahmed, 73, was convicted in 2012 of 30 child rape charges and sentenced to 22 years in jail. He was known as “Daddy” by the gang, which is believed to have had as many as 50 victims. He has dual British-Pakistani citizenship and was stripped of his British citizenship after his conviction.
“Andy Burnham vows to seek deportation of Rochdale grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed as he nears release.”
But documents shared online, reportedly from the Probation Service, have revealed that Ahmed cannot be deported to Pakistan because of the Immigration Act 1971. The law bars removal of foreign nationals who arrived in the UK before 1973 and have lived here for at least five years before deportation was considered. Justice Minister Jake Richards told the BBC’s Politics Live that there were long-standing issues with “our ability to deport foreign national offenders to Pakistan” and that in this case, “it seems unlikely.”
Burnham, the Labour leadership hopeful, said in a post on X: “Like everyone, I want this vile criminal out of the country. Victims must come first. I will ask the home and foreign secretaries to review all possible options – and they should consider nothing is off the table.”
The Home Office responded that it was “committed to doing everything possible to deport FNOs [foreign national offenders]” but acknowledged that “this necessarily involves the agreement of the receiving country, which has not always been possible.” A spokesperson added that the department was “working with colleagues across government to explore all possible options in this case.”
Ahmed’s victims have voiced their terror at his release. One, identified only as “Ruby”, who is being supported by The Maggie Oliver Foundation, said: “I’m scared for my safety and my kids’ safety.” The father of a woman who was a main prosecution witness — known as Girl A, who was groomed from the age of 12 — called on Burnham to lift the “statute of limitations” so Ahmed can be removed. “This man is a racist paedophile, a horrible man who showed no remorse,” he said. “He is a danger to all girls and women, whatever their race.”
Ahmed is due to be freed from prison on 2 July. He will be released on licence, meaning he can be recalled to jail if he breaches restrictions, and will be banned from Rochdale. Richards said he was “absolutely looking at this individual… to ensure, firstly, to look after his victims and keeping the community safe.”