In 2019, public reports confirmed that Shabir Ahmed, Abdul Aziz, Adil Khan, and Qari Abdul Rauf—core members of the Rochdale grooming gang—received over £1 million in legal aid to fight their deportation. These men were part of the group of nine jailed in 2012 for the systematic rape and trafficking of children. Following their convictions, the UK government moved to strip them of their citizenship to facilitate their removal to Pakistan, a process that faced prolonged legal challenges on human rights grounds.
The official monitoring currently in place for these individuals is based on the statutory requirements of the Sex Offenders Register and Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs). Because their crimes involved the organised sexual exploitation of minors, they are subject to notification requirements for life. This legally requires them to inform the police of any changes in address, international travel plans, or use of aliases. Ahmed, who was sentenced to 22 years, remains subject to these indefinite requirements, which apply regardless of whether he is in custody or released on parole.
In addition to the register, the men are subject to strict Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs), typically lasting at least 10 years or indefinitely. These orders legally restrict their behaviours, such as prohibiting them from contacting minors, using unmonitored internet devices, or entering specific geographic zones. Failure to comply with any condition of an SHPO is a criminal offence that can lead to an immediate return to prison for up to five years. These measures are designed to provide a legal framework for the Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) teams to intervene at the first sign of non-compliance.
The practical application of this monitoring is overseen by Greater Manchester Police and the National Probation Service under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). For offenders of this profile, this involves periodic home visits and inspections of digital devices. While these “official” tools are the primary methods used by authorities to track high-risk individuals, the government continues to pursue the physical deportation of those whose citizenship has been revoked to permanently remove them from the UK.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.