Q&A: Rochdale grooming gang leader & should sex offenders ever get early release?
7/9/202629 min
The leader of the Rochdale grooming gang has been freed after just 14 years - and the government says it can't deport him. Andy and Neil dissect how Shabir Ahmed ended up back on British streets, discuss why the case has provoked such fury, and give their view on what should happen to him now.
They also ask whether justice has finally been served after two teenage boys who raped young girls in Hampshire were given custodial sentences on appeal. Plus, Andy explains why rapists are often given such short prison sentences, and Neil gives his view on whether sex offenders should ever be eligible for the government's early release scheme.
Later, Andy reveals whether his undercover reporting has ever put him in enough danger to need close protection.
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
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Neil Basu· Host0:28
This is a global production.
Andy Hughes· Host0:34
I absolutely do think the law should be changed to allow people like this to be deported because this person could easily just go back to the community that he was abusing, and that is the real fear here.
Neil Basu· Host0:46
Being released after 14 years of a 22-year sentence for this- Yeah ... particular crime is way, way too early. Pretty much the whole of the public would've gone, "What?"
Andy Hughes· Host0:55
If there's not loads of aggravating factors, then actually rapists can get really short sentences. I'm still baffled by this. There's a real problem we have in this country with violence against women and girls, and as we know, defendants are getting younger and younger and younger. This is one of the most shocking questions we've ever had.
Neil Basu· Host1:17
Unbelievable. The Crime Agents.
Andy Hughes· Host1:21
Welcome to this Q&A episode of The Crime Agents with me, crime journalist Andy Hughes.
Neil Basu· Host1:25
And me, the ice cold Neil Basu.
Andy Hughes· Host1:28
You'll have to forgive me, Neil.