Kimberley MP says all options on table to deport ‘heinous’ grooming gang leader

But Home Office minister Mr Norris (Lab) added that ‘all options to effect the removal’ of Shabir Ahmed from the country are being considered’.

Ahmed, 73, was the leader of a Rochdale grooming gang that targeted girls as young as 12.

He had been jailed for 22 years back in August 2012 for rape, abuse and the trafficking of girls, but was released on licence from prison on July 2 after serving 14 years.

Upon his convictions, Ahmed had his British citizenship removed and his victims had been told he would be deported to Pakistan, where he was born, upon release.

However, because of legislation dating back to the early 1970s that sought to protect UK citizens, and ‘most notably the Windrush generation’, he cannot legally be deported.

Mr Norris spoke on the issue in the House of Commons on July 6 and said every option open to the Government was being examined – including amending the law.

After his Commons appearance, Mr Norris spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service and said: “This Government has removed nearly 10,000 foreign offenders.

“Currently there are legal hurdles preventing removal of the heinous Shabir Ahmed, the Government is looking at all options to effect his removal.”

An urgent question had been tabled in the Commons by Conservative MP Katie Lam, who said parole officers had said Ahmed posed a ‘very high risk of harm to children’ as recently as 2023.

Mr Norris said during the debate Ahmed was released with a tag that could track his location.

He is also subject to other restrictions, including a Rochdale exclusion zone,, and he must live in supervised accommodation.

Under Immigration Act legislation brought in back in 1971, Ahmed cannot be legally removed.

This is because he arrived in the UK before 1973, when the law came into full effect, meaning he is exempt.

It barred the removal of any Commonwealth citizen who arrived in the country before this time and had been in the country for five years.