I met with probation services yesterday, alongside fellow MPs Paul Waugh (Rochdale) and Elsie Blundell (Heywood and Middleton), to raise serious concerns about the release of notorious child sex offender and grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed. This follows a meeting with the Justice Minister on Tuesday.
Shabir Ahmed is a vile and unrepentant child sex offender who poses an ongoing risk to children. The fact that he was refused parole on three occasions is evidence of that. He is now being released after serving his statutory custodial sentence, and we are advised there is no lawful route to keep him in prison beyond it. Having had his British citizenship revoked, he should not be able to benefit from what is effectively a loophole in the Immigration Act 1971 that was intended to protect law-abiding Commonwealth citizens. Every available avenue should be explored to secure his deportation now that he has completed his sentence. If that requires a change in the law, then the law should be changed.
I also want to see further changes to the Sentencing Act 2026 to ensure that child rapists cannot in future benefit from the “earned release” scheme and be allowed out early.
Our thoughts must be with the victims and survivors of his horrific crimes. Because of their bravery, he has spent 14 years behind bars, but his release even to another area will be deeply traumatic. We must also bear in mind that while some victims saw justice in court, it is likely that others did not.
I have sought and received assurances that, whatever else happens, Shabir Ahmed will not be allowed to set foot in Rochdale (including Heywood) or Oldham. That has now been confirmed. He will be electronically tagged, his movements will be monitored, and if he breaches the exclusion zone, he will be returned to prison.
But he remains a risk to society and ultimately he should not be allowed to remain here.
I want to pay tribute to the work of Oldham-based KOGS (Keeping Our Girls Safe) for its support for victims and survivors.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 