Shabana Mahmood is actively considering various solutions to repatriate a notorious leader of a grooming gang following his release from incarceration. Shabir Ahmed, aged 73, completed a 14-year prison term but faces a challenge in being deported to Pakistan due to the revocation of his British citizenship. Recently, Keir Starmer urged the Home Secretary to reassess the situation, prompting discussions about potential legal amendments.
The impending Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, emphasized a comprehensive approach to expelling Ahmed from the country, stressing that all avenues should be explored. A government spokesperson affirmed the commitment to expel foreign criminals, highlighting the ongoing efforts to collaborate across departments to address this particular case.
Ahmed, now on parole, is under strict monitoring, residing in a supervised bail hostel with an electronic tracking device. Restricted from certain areas, including parts of Rochdale and his previous residence in Oldham, he remains ineligible for deportation due to a 1971 law safeguarding a subset of long-term Commonwealth immigrants from expulsion.
In parliamentary discussions, Labour MP Paul Waugh demanded Ahmed’s removal, urging robust action by the Foreign Office. Burnham echoed the sentiment, prioritizing the well-being of victims and advocating for an exhaustive review of all possible strategies without excluding any options.
Concerns have been voiced by victims regarding Ahmed’s release, with one expressing dismay at the lack of prior notification and apprehension about the potential risks to her family’s safety. Victims’ rights advocates have criticized the absence of communication regarding offenders’ release, emphasizing the need for improved support and transparency in such cases.
Another victim, identified as Ruby and supported by The Maggie Oliver Foundation, voiced unease about her security and her children’s well-being following the imminent release of the gang leader. Ruby highlighted the inherent risks associated with the criminal’s connections and urged legislative reforms to facilitate the deportation of grooming gang members.
Ahmed, part of a group convicted of crimes against young girls, received a 19-year sentence in 2012 at Liverpool Crown Court. The ongoing debate surrounding his deportation underscores the complexity of legal frameworks governing the removal of foreign offenders from the UK.
