Justice for Sara: Damning report exposes Surrey County Council failures
A devastating safeguarding review has revealed how 10-year-old Sara Sharif should never have been in the care of her father and stepmother, who murdered her in August 2023 after inflicting more than 70 injuries including burns and fractures.
Woking Liberal Democrat MP Will Forster, who called for the review, has demanded Surrey County Council's children's services be placed in special measures, stating they are "not fit for purpose" and officials should appear before Parliament to answer for their failings. Surrey News
The review concluded there were "clearly several points in Sara's life, in particular during the last few months, where different actions could and should have been taken and the system failed to keep her safe". Most alarmingly, Sara's father's domestic abuse history was "overlooked, not acted on and underestimated by almost all professionals".
Critical failures included Surrey County Council’s Children's Services visiting the wrong house during safeguarding enquiries, and in March 2023—just months before Sara's death—failing to identify that she was at risk, with "expected robust safeguarding processes not followed". ITV News
After bruising was discovered in June 2022, no checks were made with Surrey Police despite them holding information about the father's domestic abuse history. When a social worker approached the father, he claimed the marks were from medical equipment—a lie that was accepted without verification.
Shortly after, Sara was withdrawn from school for home education and "effectively disappeared" from professional view. The report concluded her father and stepmother "used home education to keep Sara hidden from view in the last weeks of her life".
The review makes critical recommendations including mandatory domestic abuse training for children's social workers, strengthening oversight of home education cases, and creating multi-agency safeguarding hubs.
Surrey County Council has apologised and stated it has implemented significant changes, with children's services improving from "inadequate" ratings to "good" in March 2025. Surrey NewsITV News However, this progress came too late for Sara.
Read the full review: Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership Report
Further information: ITV News Coverage
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Join us in making a real impact in our community! Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about local issues or volunteer your time. Whether it's delivering leaflets or offering your unique skills, your support is essential in helping us create positive change. Get involved today!