The independent review into the 2023 murder of eight-year-old Sara Sharif in Surrey finds multiple failures by social services, the police and the family court over two years of abuse. Key failings include court decisions that sidelined social workers, an incomplete Section 7 report, a school bruise that was not properly followed up, a home-visit to the wrong address, and neighbours who feared reporting concerns because of racism accusations. The authors describe the father and stepmother as “a lethal combination” and call for improved information-sharing and clearer professional accountability.
‘The System Failed Her’: Five Key Failings and Racism Concerns in the Sara Sharif Review
The independent review into the 2023 murder of eight-year-old Sara Sharif in Surrey finds multiple failures by social services, the police and the family court over two years of abuse. Key failings include court decisions that sidelined social workers, an incomplete Section 7 report, a school bruise that was not properly followed up, a home-visit to the wrong address, and neighbours who feared reporting concerns because of racism accusations. The authors describe the father and stepmother as “a lethal combination” and call for improved information-sharing and clearer professional accountability.
05:48 PM, 11/15/2025Society
Warning: This article contains distressing details about child abuse and murder.
An independent child safeguarding practice review into the 2023 murder of eight-year-old Sara Sharif in Surrey has identified multiple missed opportunities and systemic failures by public agencies. The review concludes 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.” It also highlights worries that fear of being labelled racist prevented neighbours from reporting concerns.
Overview
Authorities including Surrey Children's Services, Surrey Police and the Family Court were aware of domestic violence in the household long before Sara was born. The authors of the review describe her father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, as “a lethal combination” and say, in hindsight, they should not have been entrusted with her care.
Five key failings identified by the review
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Court decisions overrode social workers' concerns
When Sara first appeared in family court as an infant, local social workers recommended she be removed from her parents for her safety. After initial hearings the plan changed and social workers said their views were not given sufficient weight. The review recommends that when a children's guardian and social workers disagree, those differing views must be clearly set out for the judge.
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Incomplete and poorly informed Section 7 report
When Sara's father remarried and sought custody, an inexperienced social worker produced a Section 7 report that missed vital information and lacked proper analysis. Files held by Surrey Children's Services were not thoroughly reviewed, and important facts — such as the father's history of domestic abuse and his failure to complete a court-ordered perpetrator programme — were not properly highlighted to the judge (Alison Raeside) who heard the custody matter.
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School concern not properly followed up
In March 2023, Sara's school reported a golf ball–sized bruise on her cheek. The concern was graded “Amber” (requiring action within 24 hours), but the allocated social worker did not check police records or follow up with the school about changes in Sara's demeanour. The father's explanation — that marks came from neonatal machinery — was accepted without sufficient scrutiny. The case file records “no social work action.” Five months later, Sara was murdered.
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Home-education visit went to the wrong address
After Sara was removed from school by her father, Surrey County Council policy required a home visit for children educated at home. The family had moved from West Byfleet to Woking and the school provided the new address, but the inclusion team's electronic system still held the old address. On 7 August 2023 the home-education team visited the previous flat; the following day, 8 August 2023, Sara was killed by her father and stepmother.
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Community concerns silenced by fear of racism accusations
Neighbours sometimes heard worrying noises but were often reluctant to report them. The review found many feared being labelled racist, particularly on social media. Sara had begun wearing a hijab aged eight, which the review says hid bruising in later months; the school accepted the family's explanation linking the headscarf to a cultural interest following a visit to paternal grandparents in Pakistan.
Conclusion
The review's overall judgement is stark: multiple agencies missed chances to intervene, vital information was not shared or properly examined, and systemic errors allowed Sara to remain at risk until she was killed. The Children's Commissioner described the findings as “a catalogue of missed opportunities, poor communication and ill-informed assumptions,” and the education secretary called them “glaring failures.”
Key facts: Victim — Sara Sharif (aged 8); Perpetrators — father Urfan Sharif and stepmother Beinash Batool; Date of death — 8 August 2023. The review recommends clearer information-sharing, better-quality reporting, and stronger safeguards when professional views differ.