- Shabir Ahmed, 73, the ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang, has been released from HMP Leeds after serving 14 years of a 19-year sentence for multiple rapes and sexual abuse against young girls, and is now in secure accommodation wearing a GPS electronic tag.
- His release has intensified a dispute over his potential deportation to Pakistan, despite being stripped of his British citizenship.
- The Immigration Act 1971 is cited as a barrier, as it protects individuals who arrived in the UK before 1973 and resided there for at least five years from deportation, a condition applicable to Ahmed.
- Despite initial statements citing the legal barrier, the government has since affirmed it is "exploring every option" to deport Ahmed, with the Home Office actively investigating possibilities.
- Victims have expressed significant fear for their safety and that of their children following Ahmed's release, with one victim, "Ruby", highlighting a feeling of "false promises" and a lack of support from authorities.
IN FULL
Ministers explore ‘every route’ to deport grooming gang ringleader ahead of prison release
