Law to be changed to allow deportation of Rochdale grooming gang leader

The Home Secretary is set to change the law to allow the deportation of a Rochdale grooming gang leader who was released from prison last week.

Shabana Mahmood will set out plans on Monday to amend a 1971 law preventing the removal of Shabir Ahmed, 73, from the UK, ITV News understands.

Ahmed was released on July 2 after serving 14 years since his conviction in 2012 for rape and sexual offences against girls, some as young as 12.

He had been sentenced to 19 years in prison.

According to The Telegraph, which first reported Mahmood’s plans, it is not clear whether the changes will come under separate fast-tracked legislation or as an amendment to the Immigration and Asylum Bill, which is due to be debated in the Commons on Monday.

A Home Office minister indicated earlier this week that the government could consider emergency legislation.

Alex Norris said “all options are on the table” as the Conservatives urged him to adopt an amendment to the Bill put forward by the shadow home secretary.

Ahmed is currently exempt from deportation but Norris said the government would not give up in its efforts to deport Ahmed due to his “heinous” crimes.

The Government has been examining ways to deport Ahmed since his release last week.

The 1971 law forbids the removal of a small group of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK more than 50 years ago.

Reports have suggested Pakistan might not accept Ahmed because he had previously renounced his citizenship, but a Number 10 spokesperson confirmed it has raised the issue with officials in Islamabad.