Key facts
- Shabir Ahmed, ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang, is set for release from prison.
- Ahmed cannot be deported to Pakistan due to the Immigration Act 1971.
- He arrived in the UK before 1973 and has lived there for over five years.
- Ahmed was convicted in 2012 for multiple rape and sexual offences against girls as young as 12.
- Victims have expressed fear for their safety and concern over the lack of deportations.
- Ahmed will be subject to strict licence conditions upon release, including supervised accommodation and an exclusion zone.
Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of a notorious Rochdale grooming gang, is set for release from prison this week. Victims have been informed that he cannot be deported from the UK due to provisions in the Immigration Act 1971, as he arrived before 1973 and has resided in the country for over five years. Ahmed, known to his victims as "Daddy", was convicted in 2012 of multiple counts of rape and sexual offences against girls as young as 12, receiving a 19-year sentence. Despite being stripped of his British citizenship, his removal to Pakistan is barred by law. Upon his release on July 2, Ahmed will be subject to strict licence conditions, including 24-hour supervised accommodation and an exclusion zone around Rochdale. Victims have expressed fear for their safety, noting that none of the gang members have been removed from the country. Politicians, including Andy Burnham and MP Paul Waugh, have called for legislative reviews and amendments to facilitate deportations. A previous report found "serious multiple failures" by police and authorities in addressing concerns about the gang's activities. The Home Office has described Ahmed's crimes as "appalling" and confirmed he will be on the sex offender register for life with stringent monitoring.