Overview
- The Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership published a local child safeguarding practice review on 13 November concluding multiple agencies repeatedly missed opportunities to protect 10-year-old Sara Sharif.
- Investigators found the risk posed by her father, a serial domestic-abuse perpetrator, was underestimated by almost all professionals involved in her case.
- Administrative and procedural failings included a council visit to the wrong address on 7 August 2023 and the lack of required multi-agency scrutiny when Sara was taken out of school for home education.
- The review sets out 15 recommendations, including stronger resourcing for children’s services and updated statutory guidance mandating formal meetings when home education is proposed for children known to social care.
- Surrey County Council apologised and said it is acting on the findings, while the Education Secretary and the Children’s Commissioner said the death was preventable and the government will consider the recommendations.