SHABIR AHMED AND SEXUAL ABUSE IN MANCHESTER AND ROCHDALE
| Red Rose Database
Manchester Grooming Gang Member
A comprehensive review into the failings surrounding historic child sexual exploitation in Oldham has revealed that many of the tragic incidents could have been prevented had authorities taken earlier and more decisive action against Shabir Ahmed, a notorious figure linked to the Rochdale grooming gang network. Nearly three years after the review was commissioned by Oldham Council in 2019, experts Malcolm Newsam and Gary Ridgway produced a detailed report exposing critical shortcomings in the handling of child abuse allegations and the systemic failures that allowed Ahmed to continue his harmful activities unnoticed.
The investigation looked into how various agencies responded to allegations of child sexual exploitation in Oldham between 2011 and 2014, with a particular focus on a troubling case from 2005 involving Ahmed. The findings demonstrate that Ahmed, who worked as a welfare officer in Oldham for nearly two decades, was allegedly involved in serious child sexual abuse while maintaining seemingly unchecked access to vulnerable populations. It was uncovered that during his tenure at Oldham Council, from 1988 to 2006, Ahmed held the position of welfare rights officer, including a role at the Oldham Pakistani Community Centre, which put him in contact with numerous vulnerable adults and children.
One of the most shocking revelations of the report concerns the fact that Ahmed’s links to Oldham and the local authority had been scrutinized as part of the investigation. Despite this, authorities failed to prevent him from continuing his work after serious accusations surfaced. In 2005, the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received a significant allegation concerning Ahmed’s alleged sexual abuse of a child. The victim, who is now an adult, had also informed police that Ahmed might have had contact with a young child outside of Oldham. Regrettably, the police did not record a crime report at that time, stating their actions aligned with standard procedures then. However, the review highlights that the national crime recording standards mandated that such incidents needed to be formally documented.
The failure extended further, as GMP did not notify Oldham Council or the appropriate child safeguarding authorities of the allegations. Consequently, no risk assessment or safeguarding measures were initiated to protect children who might have been at risk from Ahmed while he was employed at the Council. This oversight allowed him to remain in a position that potentially gave him access to vulnerable children. Despite these warning signs, Ahmed continued his employment, and subsequent allegations surfaced in 2008. That July, he was arrested on suspicion of abducting two children, but because neither child made a formal complaint, no charges were initially laid.
The review reveals that even after this arrest, Oldham Council failed to undertake a safeguarding assessment or to engage with police in a proactive manner. Moreover, the council was unaware of the full scope of Ahmed’s activities because the police had not shared vital information, including details about a child who resided outside of Oldham but who could have been endangered. Unfortunately, even after further allegations emerged in 2011, authorities did not act to reassess the risk Ahmed posed, despite being informed by the probation service that his history involved profound child sexual abuse.
In 2012, Ahmed was convicted of numerous sexual offenses, including two counts of rape, and was sentenced to 19 years in prison. He later received an additional 22-year sentence after being found guilty of 30 more rape charges in 2012, bringing his total imprisonment to over 40 years. Now aged 69, Ahmed’s lengthy criminal record underscores the severity of his offences and the grave failures of prior preventative measures.
Further failures developed around the handling of cases involving Ahmed’s employment and the issuing of taxi licenses. A review of Oldham’s taxi drivers, following the fallout from the Rotherham scandal, identified nine drivers with criminal convictions or allegations related to sexual offences. While some licenses were revoked, others remained active or were renewed despite serious concerns. One driver was convicted of indecent assault and subsequently linked to a later sexual assault in his taxi, yet the licensing authorities had not acted to revoke his license. These lapses heightened the risk of further abuse, especially given the known issues with cab drivers being involved in criminal activities.
The report also delves into whether there was any attempt to cover up or downplay the extent of local grooming networks and exploitation. The review concludes that there is no evidence of a widespread or systematic cover-up by local authorities, police, or political leaders. It states that while concerns about exploitation were high, efforts were made to address these issues openly. For instance, at public meetings and council reports, authorities extensively publicized the risks of child sexual exploitation. The former council leader Jim McMahon publicly addressed these issues in 2014, emphasizing that tackling allegations publicly was essential to protect victims and prevent the spread of misinformation or exploitation of ethnic tensions.
In response to the findings, leaders from both Oldham Council and Greater Manchester Police issued apologies for the past failures. Oldham’s council leader Amanda Chadderton acknowledged serious shortcomings in safeguarding practices, expressing regret that vulnerable young people were left unprotected and emphasizing that measures had since been improved. Meanwhile, GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson admitted that the safeguarding protocols in place during the period covered by the review were insufficient, and he extended sincere apologies to all affected individuals. Both officials committed to ongoing reforms to prevent such failures from recurring in the future.
This review starkly highlights the devastating consequences of systemic neglect and procedural failures in protecting children from predatory offenders like Shabir Ahmed. It underscores the importance of vigilance, accountability, and coordinated multi-agency efforts to prevent similar tragedies from occurring again in Manchester, Oldham, and beyond.
The investigation looked into how various agencies responded to allegations of child sexual exploitation in Oldham between 2011 and 2014, with a particular focus on a troubling case from 2005 involving Ahmed. The findings demonstrate that Ahmed, who worked as a welfare officer in Oldham for nearly two decades, was allegedly involved in serious child sexual abuse while maintaining seemingly unchecked access to vulnerable populations. It was uncovered that during his tenure at Oldham Council, from 1988 to 2006, Ahmed held the position of welfare rights officer, including a role at the Oldham Pakistani Community Centre, which put him in contact with numerous vulnerable adults and children.
One of the most shocking revelations of the report concerns the fact that Ahmed’s links to Oldham and the local authority had been scrutinized as part of the investigation. Despite this, authorities failed to prevent him from continuing his work after serious accusations surfaced. In 2005, the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received a significant allegation concerning Ahmed’s alleged sexual abuse of a child. The victim, who is now an adult, had also informed police that Ahmed might have had contact with a young child outside of Oldham. Regrettably, the police did not record a crime report at that time, stating their actions aligned with standard procedures then. However, the review highlights that the national crime recording standards mandated that such incidents needed to be formally documented.
The failure extended further, as GMP did not notify Oldham Council or the appropriate child safeguarding authorities of the allegations. Consequently, no risk assessment or safeguarding measures were initiated to protect children who might have been at risk from Ahmed while he was employed at the Council. This oversight allowed him to remain in a position that potentially gave him access to vulnerable children. Despite these warning signs, Ahmed continued his employment, and subsequent allegations surfaced in 2008. That July, he was arrested on suspicion of abducting two children, but because neither child made a formal complaint, no charges were initially laid.
The review reveals that even after this arrest, Oldham Council failed to undertake a safeguarding assessment or to engage with police in a proactive manner. Moreover, the council was unaware of the full scope of Ahmed’s activities because the police had not shared vital information, including details about a child who resided outside of Oldham but who could have been endangered. Unfortunately, even after further allegations emerged in 2011, authorities did not act to reassess the risk Ahmed posed, despite being informed by the probation service that his history involved profound child sexual abuse.
In 2012, Ahmed was convicted of numerous sexual offenses, including two counts of rape, and was sentenced to 19 years in prison. He later received an additional 22-year sentence after being found guilty of 30 more rape charges in 2012, bringing his total imprisonment to over 40 years. Now aged 69, Ahmed’s lengthy criminal record underscores the severity of his offences and the grave failures of prior preventative measures.
Further failures developed around the handling of cases involving Ahmed’s employment and the issuing of taxi licenses. A review of Oldham’s taxi drivers, following the fallout from the Rotherham scandal, identified nine drivers with criminal convictions or allegations related to sexual offences. While some licenses were revoked, others remained active or were renewed despite serious concerns. One driver was convicted of indecent assault and subsequently linked to a later sexual assault in his taxi, yet the licensing authorities had not acted to revoke his license. These lapses heightened the risk of further abuse, especially given the known issues with cab drivers being involved in criminal activities.
The report also delves into whether there was any attempt to cover up or downplay the extent of local grooming networks and exploitation. The review concludes that there is no evidence of a widespread or systematic cover-up by local authorities, police, or political leaders. It states that while concerns about exploitation were high, efforts were made to address these issues openly. For instance, at public meetings and council reports, authorities extensively publicized the risks of child sexual exploitation. The former council leader Jim McMahon publicly addressed these issues in 2014, emphasizing that tackling allegations publicly was essential to protect victims and prevent the spread of misinformation or exploitation of ethnic tensions.
In response to the findings, leaders from both Oldham Council and Greater Manchester Police issued apologies for the past failures. Oldham’s council leader Amanda Chadderton acknowledged serious shortcomings in safeguarding practices, expressing regret that vulnerable young people were left unprotected and emphasizing that measures had since been improved. Meanwhile, GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson admitted that the safeguarding protocols in place during the period covered by the review were insufficient, and he extended sincere apologies to all affected individuals. Both officials committed to ongoing reforms to prevent such failures from recurring in the future.
This review starkly highlights the devastating consequences of systemic neglect and procedural failures in protecting children from predatory offenders like Shabir Ahmed. It underscores the importance of vigilance, accountability, and coordinated multi-agency efforts to prevent similar tragedies from occurring again in Manchester, Oldham, and beyond.