The UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is set to announce legislative changes that will facilitate the deportation of Shabir Ahmed, the former leader of a notorious Rochdale grooming gang. Reports indicate that the government intends to modify the 1971 Immigration Act to bypass existing barriers to his removal.
Ahmed, 73, was convicted in 2012 for multiple child sexual offenses, including rape, and sentenced to 22 years in prison. Although he was released on license last week, his victims have expressed deep fear and concern regarding his presence in the community. Ahmed, who previously held dual citizenship, had his British nationality revoked following his conviction.
Current immigration laws protect certain Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1973 from deportation. The government plans to update this statute to specifically address cases like Ahmed’s. For the duration of his stay in the UK, Ahmed is required to live in 24-hour monitored housing and wear a GPS tracking device. Any violation of his license terms will result in his immediate return to custody.
