Murdered schoolgirl Sara Sharif ‘was not protected from abuse and torture’

A damning review has found that murdered 10-year-old Sara Sharif was not protected from abuse and torture, and her death was the result of numerous failures by the safeguarding system. The report concluded that Sara had been a victim of domestic abuse from birth onwards, and her father's cruelty was overlooked and underestimated, with authorities being manipulated by him. Missed opportunities to protect Sara included a council worker being sent to the wrong address due to an outdated digital system just two days before her death. When her father informed the school he intended to homeschool her, the report found this was likely to keep her hidden in the final weeks of her life. The review examined the handling of Sara's care by various agencies including the police, social care, and education, identifying many points where different actions could and should have been taken. Sara's father and stepmother, Beinash Batool, were found guilty of her murder and jailed for life, while her uncle was convicted of causing or allowing her death. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson highlighted the "glaring failures and missed opportunities" across all agencies that led to Sara's death. Surrey County Council's chief executive expressed deep apologies for the report's findings and stated that robust actions have been taken and will continue, with all recommendations to... download the app to read more