Two years after her death, an independent review has shed new light on the failings that led to the death of ten-year-old Sara Sharif. Will Tullis reports.
Ten-year-old Sara Sharif, who was murdered by her father and stepmother after a campaign of abuse, was “failed by the safeguarding system” in multiple ways throughout her short life, an independent review has concluded.
The 62-page review into the neglect of Sara, who endured “horrific abuse” at the hands of Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool, before her death in August 2023, concluded that while a “great deal of information” was available to various authorities, even safeguarding professionals appeared to have been “groomed and manipulated” by her killer father.
The review, which was published on Thursday, found that there were “many points” at which action “could, and should” have been taken to protect Sara from her Sharif and Batool.
Authors of the review, social worker Jane Wonnacott and Dr Russell Wate, say that at the heart of Sara’s life and death were “a violent woman – and a violent man who was capable of grooming and manipulating those around him”.
The review found that Sara’s father’s serial domestic abuse was “overlooked, not acted on and underestimated” by almost all professionals.
It said Surrey Children’s Services did not identify that Sara was at risk of being abused by her father, stepmother, and uncle, Faisal Malik, who was also found guilty of causing or allowing her death.
The review added that authorities did not respond to Sara’s bruising alongside inconsistent explanations, and a lack of effective management meant that “good practice” was not followed when Sara was withdrawn from school by her father to be educated at home.
The review revealed that a home visit had been arranged within ten days of getting a notification that a parent or guardian plans to home educate, but the team from Surrey went to the family’s previous address on August 7, 2023 — two days before Sara was killed.
The mistake was recognised, but the decision was made not to visit again until September.
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Sara was found dead in a bunk bed at the family home in Woking, Surrey, in August 2023.
She had suffered 71 “fresh” injuries, including 25 broken bones, iron burns on her bottom, scalding marks to her feet, and human bites.
The review also found that more consideration should have been given to Sara’s dual heritage Polish and Pakistani heritage, and that “possible assumptions” led to practitioners not questioning when Sara started to wear a hijab in 2021, despite this not being the norm within the family.
During the trial at the Old Bailey in December 2024 it emerged that Sara started wearing the head covering to school to conceal injuries to her face and head.
The review has been written by independent authors, who brought together partners – including the police, health, social care and education – to review the practice of all agencies involved with the family, and identify any learning.
