Burnham presses for deportation route for Rochdale grooming gang ringleader

Andy Burnham urged home and foreign secretaries to review all options to deport Shabir Ahmed, the Rochdale grooming gang ringleader set for release after a 2012 conviction. Ahmed, who had dual British-Pakistani citizenship and was stripped of British citizenship, faces potential deportation obstacles under the Immigration Act 1971, which may bar removal since he arrived in the UK before 1973. The Home Office says it’s exploring all possibilities while victims fear for their safety and will be subject to strict licence conditions upon release. The case highlights ongoing tensions over deporting foreign national offenders and potential legal hurdles in altering retrospective rules.)