Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang who raped girls as young as 12, has been released from prison after serving just 14 years of a 22‑year sentence – and he cannot be deported because of a 55‑year‑old immigration law.
Ahmed, 73, was known as 'Daddy' by his victims. He was convicted in 2012 of 30 charges of child rape and other sexual offences. As a dual British‑Pakistani citizen, his British citizenship was stripped by the courts after his jailing. But when his sentence ended this week, the Home Office admitted that the Immigration Act 1971 prevents the removal of any Commonwealth citizen who arrived in the UK before 1973 and had been in the country for five years. Ahmed came to Britain in the late 1960s, so the law applies.
“Explains the legal deadlock over Shabir Ahmed's deportation and the wider grooming gang scandal.”
Grooming gangs are networks of men who target vulnerable children for sexual exploitation. The Rochdale gang operated between 2008 and 2010, preying on girls as young as 12. The case became a national scandal, prompting inquiries and public outrage. Many of the perpetrators were of Pakistani heritage, but the issue is not about ethnicity – it is about organised child sexual abuse and systemic failures by authorities to protect victims.
For UK readers, this case raises urgent questions about the justice system and public safety. Victims say they were promised Ahmed would be deported. Now they live in fear. One victim, identified as 'Amber', told the Centre for Women's Justice: “I’ve been let down all over again.” Another, 'Ruby', said: “I am scared for my safety and my children’s safety.” The law that blocks deportation – the Immigration Act 1971 – was designed to protect Commonwealth citizens who had long‑term residence, but critics argue it creates a loophole that shields serious criminals.
Q: Why can’t Shabir Ahmed be deported to Pakistan? Under the Immigration Act 1971, a Commonwealth citizen who arrived in the UK before 1973 and has lived here for five years cannot be removed. Ahmed arrived in the late 1960s, so the law bars deportation even though his British citizenship was revoked. The government says it is “exploring every option” but is currently powerless.
Q: What licence conditions is Ahmed subject to on release? Ahmed is living in 24‑hour staffed accommodation, wearing a GPS electronic tag. He is on the sex offenders register for life, banned from contacting any child or young person, and must stay away from his victims and Rochdale. Any breach of his strict licence conditions will result in an immediate return to prison.
Q: What has been the reaction from victims and the public? Victims have expressed terror and anger. Some have reported being unable to sleep or afraid for their children. Vigilante patrols have been organised in Rochdale, with local campaigner Billy Howarth calling Ahmed “the devil incarnate”. Greater Manchester Police have tightened security for victims, but support services remain limited.
What happens next? Sir Keir Starmer has asked the Home Secretary to review the case. Andy Burnham, the Labour leader‑in‑waiting, has said “nothing is off the table” to deport Ahmed. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has promised to amend the government’s Immigration and Asylum Bill to close the loophole. But for now, Ahmed remains in the UK under strict supervision, and the law remains unchanged.