When Shabir Ahmed, a convicted leader in one of Britain’s grooming gang cases, was released from prison this month and allowed to stay in the country rather than being deported to Pakistan, the political fallout extended well beyond a single immigration dispute.
The case has become a test for the ruling Labour party, which is under pressure both as the government responsible for deportation policy and over criticism of failures by some local authorities to protect vulnerable girls.
Analysts said Ahmed’s release had revived public anger over group-based child sexual exploitation – known in Britain as the grooming gangs scandal – and claims that officials failed to act because they feared accusations of racism.
Ahmed was convicted in 2012 of multiple counts of rape and sexual offences against girls, but could not be deported to Pakistan because of a 55-year-old law that prevented his removal.
Provisions under the Immigration Act 1971 bar the removal of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the United Kingdom before 1973 and had been in the country for five years.
Ahmed held dual British-Pakistani citizenship before losing the former following his 2012 conviction, but was still exempt from deportation.
