Sara Sharif 'Failed by the System' as Father's Abuse Was Overlooked
A damning safeguarding review has concluded that 10-year-old Sara Sharif was failed by authorities who left her living with an abusive father, ultimately leading to her tragic death. The report states that professionals overlooked and underestimated her father's history of domestic abuse, despite a wealth of information being available about the family.
Missed Opportunities and Horrific Injuries
The independent review, published on Thursday 13 November 2025, identified numerous missed chances to protect Sara, with concerns noted as far back as her birth in 2013. Tragically, at the time of her death in Woking, a post-mortem examination revealed Sara had sustained 71 recent injuries, including 25 broken bones.
Her father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, were later convicted and jailed for her murder. A judge noted that Sharif derived grim satisfaction from a campaign of violence.
Systemic Failures and Recommendations for Change
The report highlighted several critical failures. Shockingly, Sharif was granted custody of Sara in 2019 despite previous abuse allegations and arrests. It also found that factors such as race, culture, religion, or heritage were not properly considered in the handling of her case.
In response to the tragedy, the review has issued 15 recommendations to prevent future failings. Key proposals include:
- Improving how referrals to children's services are handled.
- Updating guidance to require formal meetings for home-schooling applications involving children known to social care.
The report's overarching conclusion is that Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother should never have been trusted with her care, underscoring a catastrophic breakdown in the systems designed to protect the most vulnerable.
