Home Secretary to Amend Law for Deportation of Rochdale Gang Leader
The Home Secretary will introduce changes to the law to enable the deportation of the freed ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang, the BBC has reported.
As initially reported by the Telegraph, Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce on Monday her plans to amend the 1971 Immigration Act, which currently prevents Shabir Ahmed from being removed from the UK.
Background on Shabir Ahmed's Conviction and Citizenship
Ahmed, aged 73, was sentenced to 22 years in prison in August 2012 for multiple child sexual offences, including rape. He was released on licence last week.
Known to his victims as "Daddy," Ahmed held dual British-Pakistani citizenship but was stripped of his British citizenship following his 2012 conviction.
Legal Barriers to Deportation
At the time of his release, victims were informed that Ahmed could not be deported to Pakistan due to the 1971 Immigration Act. This legislation prohibits the removal of any Commonwealth citizen who arrived in the UK before 1973 and has resided in the country for at least five years.
Post-Release Conditions
Following his release from prison, Ahmed was placed in accommodation staffed 24 hours a day and fitted with a GPS electronic monitoring tag.
Ongoing Updates
This is a developing news story, and further details will be published shortly. Readers are encouraged to refresh the page for the most current information.
You can receive Breaking News alerts on smartphones or tablets via the App. Additionally, follow @BBCBreaking on X for the latest updates.
