A safeguarding practice review has found that children’s services in Surrey failed to identify abuse suffered by 10-year-old Sara Sharif.
Sara was killed in August 2023 by her father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, who were both sentenced to life imprisonment.
The review revealed that staff attempted to visit Sara’s home on 7 August 2023, three days before her death, but went to the wrong address. A follow-up visit was not scheduled until September.
Investigators found that safeguarding procedures were not consistently followed, and assessments and information-gathering were inadequate.
Staff reportedly did not respond to visible bruising and were hesitant to question why Sara had begun wearing a hijab when other family members did not—a decision the local Muslim community advised was unusual. One occupational therapist later reflected that she may have been reluctant to raise concerns ‘for fear of causing offence.’
The report notes that, in later months, the hijab concealed bruising and injuries to Sara’s face and head, highlighting missed opportunities for intervention.
Terence Herbert, Chief Executive of Surrey County Council said: ‘We are deeply sorry for the findings in the report related to us as a local authority. We have already taken robust action to address those relating to Surrey County Council, and that work will continue with every recommendation implemented in full. We will also work with partners across the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership to ensure a joint action plan is implemented as quickly as possible.’
He added: ‘In recent years Children’s Services in Surrey have gone from “Inadequate” to “Good”, and we are absolutely determined to keep making improvements that can help keep children safe.’
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