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Warning: This report contains details of child abuse and murder that some readers may find distressing.
Council failed to visit Sara Sharif the day before her murder
A damning independent review has revealed that Surrey County Council staff attempted-but failed-to check on 10-year-old Sara Sharif just 24 hours before her murder in August 2023, after visiting the wrong address. The error was discovered too late: Sara was killed the following day by her father, Urfan Sharif, 43, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, who were later jailed for life for her murder after a campaign of abuse spanning two years.
The Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership review, published Thursday, found that local services repeatedly overlooked signs of abuse, including unexplained bruising and Sara's sudden use of a hijab-later revealed to conceal injuries. Professionals hesitated to question the clothing change, citing "fear of causing offence," while neighbors admitted they avoided reporting concerns over fears of being labeled racist.
Systemic failures left Sara 'invisible' to safeguarding
The 148-page report, authored by former senior social worker Jane Wonnacott and ex-homicide detective Dr. Russell Wate, concluded that Surrey's child protection system "failed to keep her safe." It identified multiple missed opportunities in the months leading to Sara's death, including:
- Ignored police records: Children's services never consulted Surrey Police, despite Sharif's known history of domestic abuse. The review called this omission "surprising" and a lost chance to flag risks.
- School alerts dismissed: In March 2023, staff at St Mary's Primary School in West Byfleet reported three bruises-one "the size of a golf ball"-on Sara's face. Authorities classified the case as "amber" (requiring action within 24 hours) but took no further steps after Sharif falsely claimed the marks were from medical equipment at birth.
- Homeschooling loophole: After withdrawing Sara from school, Sharif exploited gaps in oversight. A planned home visit on 7 August 2023-the day before her murder-was botched when staff went to her old address. The error was noted but not corrected until September.
The review also criticized the Family Court for twice rejecting care orders despite Sara's long history with social services. A third hearing lacked critical details about prior interventions, as an "inexperienced" social worker failed to include them in a report.
'Groomed and manipulated': How abusers evaded scrutiny
Sharif and Batool "proved a lethal combination," the review stated, noting that Sharif "groomed and manipulated" both professionals and Sara herself. The girl, described as once "bubbly," became "quiet and coy," pulling her hijab over her face to hide injuries that included human bite marks, iron burns, and scalding-revealed only after her death.
Neighbors later told investigators they had suspected abuse but stayed silent, fearing racial backlash. Meanwhile, a newly qualified occupational therapist admitted avoiding questions about Sara's hijab for similar reasons. The review warned that "race was a bar to reporting" and that professionals "never explored" how Sara's Pakistani heritage might have influenced her vulnerability.
"No child should ever have to suffer what Sara did at the hands of those who should have shown her only love."
Assistant Chief Constable Tanya Jones, Surrey Police
Calls for accountability and reform
Surrey County Council called the findings "deeply sorry" and pledged to implement all recommendations, including reforms to homeschooling safeguards. Chief Executive Terence Herbert noted that children's services had improved from "inadequate" to "good" in recent years but acknowledged "more must be done."
Critics demanded swifter action. Woking MP Will Forster urged the council's children's services be placed into special measures, while Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza called the delays "unacceptable":
"Change is urgent-we are now more than two years on from Sara's preventable murder, and children are still dying."
Dame Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner for England
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described the case as "an appalling tragedy" and vowed to ensure "no child is left invisible" to protective services. Sharif was sentenced to a minimum of 40 years in prison; Batool, 33 years. Sara's uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, received 16 years for causing or allowing her death.
Key recommendations
- Mandatory police checks in all child protection cases involving domestic abuse histories.
- Stricter oversight of homeschooled children, including unannounced visits.
- Training to address "cultural sensitivities" that may hinder abuse reporting.
- Clearer information-sharing protocols between courts, schools, and social services.
