Rotherham Abusers Could Lose UK Citizenship

The ringleaders of the Rotherham sex abuse scandal could lose their UK citizenship and be deported at the end of their prison sentences.

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, is to broaden use of anti-terrorism powers following the conviction of Asian sex abuse gangs.

The legal powers, already being used against four ringleaders of another sex abuse scandal in Rochdale, can be used against criminals with dual nationality.

Earlier this week, brothers Arshid, Basharat and Bannaras Hussein were found guilty of a range of offences involving the sexual exploitation of teenage girls in Rotherham.

And now British-Pakistani members of the gang of six men and women from Rotherham, who were convicted on Wednesday of offences including rape, forced prostitution, indecent assault and false imprisonment, are expected to face action to strip them of their UK citizenship after they are sentenced.

Legal proceedings seeking their potential deportation to Pakistan could then follow.

Home Office sources could not confirm that the action will be taken, but admitted it is being looked at.

A Home Office spokesman told Sky News: "Citizenship is a privilege not a right.

"The Home Secretary can deprive an individual of their citizenship where it is believed it is conducive to the public good to do so."

According to Home Office sources, under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981, a person can be deprived of their citizenship either where they acquired it using fraud, false representation(s) or concealment of a material fact, or where the Secretary of State is satisfied that doing so is 'conducive to the public good'.

But where deprivation action is proposed on 'conducive to the public good' grounds, it may only proceed if the person would not be left stateless as a result.

Although amendments to British nationality laws in 2014 making it easier to strip dual nationals of citizenship were primarily aimed at terrorists who could undermine the UK's security, the Home Office is now using the same legal sanctions to target serious crime, including sex abuse.

The Home Office recently took legal action against the British-Pakistani ringleader and three other members of a child sex gang in Rochdale who were convicted in 2012 of preying on girls as young as 13.

The girls were plied with drink and drugs before they were "passed around" for sex.

A special immigration tribunal in Manchester has just completed hearing appeals against the Home Secretary's decision to end their British citizenship and begin deportation proceedings.

The ringleader of the gang, currently serving a 22-year sentence, has cited human rights laws in his appeal against deportation.

Shabir Ahmed, 63 - described by a judge as a "violent hypocritical bully" - has written to the European Court Of Human Rights claiming his convictions for child sex offences were a conspiracy to "scapegoat" Muslims.

Vinesh Mandalia, counsel for the Home Office at the tribunal, told the hearing that the decision by the Home Secretary to deprive the men of their British citizenships was based on the need to express "society's condemnation of those who have gained the benefits and privileges of British citizenship, but go on to become involved in serious organised crime".

The tribunal will deliver its verdict next month.

Use of the enhanced deportation powers in 2014 led to a British-born man and his three sons being stripped of their British citizenship because of alleged terrorism links.

In another case, a man holding joint Afghanistan-British citizenship was stripped of his UK passport and left stranded in Pakistan after being accused of involvement in Islamist extremism.

Since 2000, an estimated 37 people have had their British citizenship revoked. Their nationalities include: Russian, Somali, Yemeni, Australian, Pakistani, Afghan, Albanian, Egyptian, Lebanese, Sudanese, Vietnamese, Iranian, Iraqi and Nigerian.