People smuggler convicted in France found by BBC living in UK and seeking asylum
A convicted people smuggler, once described as "the godfather" of the French migrant camps, is living in Leicestershire and believed to be seeking asylum while working illegally, a BBC investigation can reveal.
Twana Jamal was given a five-year jail sentence in France in 2016, where authorities described him as one of the most successful people smugglers ever caught.
Prosecutors said the Iraqi Kurd, aged 36 at the time, had earned up to £100,000 a week for moving illegal immigrants across the Channel.
Following a tip-off this year, we traced Jamal to the village of Blaby and witnessed him working, driving a car without a licence and apparently using a false name.
Jamal's presence in the UK raises serious concerns about whether existing border controls are effective in checking asylum seekers who have committed serious crimes overseas.
Immigration officers have told the BBC that since the UK left the European Union, it has become more difficult to check criminal records from some other countries.
We have found more than 20 active smugglers who have reached the UK - some with overseas convictions, and some claiming asylum using false names
Grooming gang leader released from prison
The ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang that targeted girls as young as 12 has been released from prison.
Shabir Ahmed, who was known as 'Daddy' by his victims, wasjailed for 22 years in August 2012 for a raft of child sexual offences including rape.
This week his victims were told he would be released on licence and despite earlier promises, could not be deported due to a 55-year-old law.
The BBC understands the 73-year-old left prison earlier and is now in secure accommodation, wearing a GPS electronically monitored tag.
The Home Office has said any breach of Ahmed's strict licence conditions would result in him being immediately returned to prison.
Earlier ministers said the government was looking at ways to have the child rapist deported to Pakistan.
In response to a question from Labour's Rochdale MP Paul Waugh, the Leader of the House Sir Alan Campbell said officials were "exploring every option in this case."
However Downing Street has since said it had no plans to change the 1971 legislation.
Resist comment. Why does the Labour government allow this to happen? They are making a mockery of the UK. Both these people should be deported immediately. See the blog from yesterday where the muslim Council of Great Britain itemised recent attacks against muslims. What about the continuing acts and paedophilia commited by muslims? The death cult of Islam has a lot to answer for, as does this Labour government.