Burnham calls for grooming gang ringleader to be deported

Burnham Pushes for Deportation of Rochdale Grooming Gang Leader

Burnham calls for grooming gang ringleader - Andy Burnham, the Labour leader, has urged the government to consider deporting Shabir Ahmed, the head of a Rochdale grooming gang, after his release from prison this week. Ahmed was convicted in 2012 for multiple counts of rape and sexual abuse against girls as young as 12. His dual British-Pakistani citizenship was revoked following the conviction, leaving him ineligible for deportation under current UK laws.

The Home Office confirmed it is collaborating with other departments to assess all options for Ahmed's removal. Burnham, who is likely to become prime minister next month, emphasized the need to prioritize victims' safety. In a post on X, he stated:

"Like everyone, I want this vile criminal out of the country. Victims must come first. I will request the Home Office and Foreign Office to examine every available option, ensuring nothing is ruled out."

Legal Hurdles to Deportation

Documents from the Probation Service suggest Ahmed cannot be sent back to Pakistan due to provisions in the Immigration Act 1971. The law bars deportation if an individual arrived in the UK before 1973 and resided there for at least five years before removal proceedings began. This complicates efforts to expel him, despite his crimes being described as "appalling" by the Home Office.

Justice Minister Jake Richards acknowledged long-standing challenges in deporting foreign national offenders to Pakistan. "We need to try and work on that and see whether it's possible, but in this case, it seems unlikely," he told the BBC. While he noted the difficulty of changing the law retrospectively, Richards highlighted the focus on safeguarding victims and community safety post-release.

Victims' Concerns and Support

Ruby, one of Ahmed's victims, expressed fears for her and her children's safety. Supported by The Maggie Oliver Foundation, she said:

"I'm worried about my own safety and that of my children. The main ringleader is getting out of prison, who is well known in Rochdale, Oldham, and Middleton. Even if he's not in those areas, he still knows people and has the chance to contact them."

Maggie Oliver, the foundation's founder, criticized the situation, stating Ruby "feels that she is once again an afterthought." The case has sparked broader scrutiny of the UK's handling of grooming gangs, with previous reports highlighting "serious multiple failures" by police and local authorities in protecting victims. Despite assurances of stringent conditions upon release, such as supervised accommodation and an exclusion zone around Rochdale, the debate over Ahmed's deportation remains unresolved.