Labour urged to use 'every sanction in the book' to deport Rochdale grooming gang ringleader

Andrew Griffith has called on the Labour Government to use "every sanction in the book" to deport the ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang.

Speaking to GB News, the Shadow Business Secretary declared that Britain should "not be a place of refuge" for such criminals.

Shabir Ahmed, 73, is set to be released from prison on Thursday but is unable to be deported back to Pakistan due to a legal loophole.

Ahmed falls under a provision in the Immigration Act 1971 that exempts Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1973 from removal.

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The grooming gang ringleader was jailed back in 2012 for multiple rape and child sexual offences in Rochdale.

Asked by GB News host Ellie Costello whether the legal loophole blocking Ahmed's deportation should be closed, Mr Griffith completely agreed.

He said: "100 per cent. This place, this country, should not be a refuge for people like this, they should be returned.

"And we should, as a country, be using every sanction in the book to make sure that countries take people back, as well as reforming the ECHR, leaving the ECHR, reforming other aspects of human rights laws to ensure that that can absolutely happen."

The Tory MP stressed that "no sanction" should be off the table.

He said: "The visa regime, foreign aid, trade sanctions to make countries take people back and reforming our own laws to ensure that we have the absolute ability to deport criminals and animals like this."

Pressed by Ellie on what sanctions should be imposed, Mr Griffith argued that the "full list" should be used against Pakistan.

He told GB News: "The full list. Visa restrictions on the ability of people from Pakistan, consider trade issues. I'm a Conservative, we're in favour of trade, but not to the extent that we are harbouring foreign criminals whose country won't take them back.

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"Looking at aid contributions and all of the other sanctions that countries have at their disposal.

"The point is, we must do whatever it takes to protect our country, protect the people of this country, and send a massive signal about what we regard as civilised behaviour, the values that this great country of ours holds."

Ahmed was also stripped of his British citizenship following his conviction in 2012.

He was identified as one of the nine men from Rochdale and Oldham who were found guilty of exploiting girls as young as 13 at two takeaway restaurants in the Heywood area of Rochdale.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Our thoughts are first and foremost with the victims of these appalling crimes.

"Ahmed’s horrific crimes were at the heart of the grooming gangs scandal that represents one of the darkest moments in our country’s history. The most vulnerable people were abused and exploited at the hands of evil child rapists and must face the full force of the law.

"On his release he will be on the sex offender’s register for life, ordered to stay away from his victims and banned from contacting any child or young person.

"As well as facing strict curfews and restriction zones, his every movement will be tracked, forced to wear an electronic tag. Should he breach his conditions, he will be immediately locked up."

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