Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleShabir Ahmed is due for release from prison on Thursday (Greater Manchester Police)Shabir Ahmed, a Rochdale grooming ringleader, is due for release from prison after serving 14 years for multiple rape and sexual offences against young girls. The government is exploring "every route" to deport 73-year-old Ahmed, who was stripped of his British citizenship, but faces legal obstacles due to Immigration Act 1971 provisions. These provisions prevent deportation for individuals who arrived in the UK before 1973 and lived there for at least five years before deportation was considered. Labour minister Baroness Jacqui Smith suggested Pakistan may have refused to accept Ahmed, further complicating efforts to remove him from the country. Victims have expressed fears for their safety upon his release, despite assurances that Ahmed will be subject to "substantial and robust licence conditions" and an "exclusion zone" around Rochdale. In fullMinisters explore ‘every route’ to deport grooming gang ringleader ahead of prison releaseMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Government trying ‘every route’ to deport Rochdale grooming leader
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleShabir Ahmed is due for release from prison on Thursday (Greater Manchester Police)Shabir Ahmed, a Rochdale grooming ringleader, is due for release from prison after serving 14 years for multiple rape and sexual offences against young girls. The government is exploring "every route" to deport 73-year-old Ahmed, who was stripped of his British citizenship, but faces legal obstacles due to Immigration Act 1971 provisions. These provisions prevent deportation for individuals who arrived in the UK before 1973 and lived there for at least five years before deportation was considered. Labour minister Baroness Jacqui Smith suggested Pakistan may have refused to accept Ahmed, further complicating efforts to remove him from the country. Victims have expressed fears for their safety upon his release, despite assurances that Ahmed will be subject to "substantial and robust licence conditions" and an "exclusion zone" around Rochdale. In fullMinisters explore ‘every route’ to deport grooming gang ringleader ahead of prison releaseMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
