Future of Sara Sharif social workers under scrutiny

It is believed there were many missed chances to save Sara Sharif from the abuse she was receiving

A member of Surrey County Council has asked whether there should be resignations at the authority following mistakes made over Sara Sharif.

The 10-year-old was found dead at her home in Woking in August 2023, after suffering a series of injuries following years of abuse at the hands of her father and stepmother.

At a full council meeting on Tuesday, Labour councillor Robert Evans asked if there would be resignations, due to what he said were missed chances to save her.

The cabinet member responsible for children declined to give details ahead of a planned review.

Sara's father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother Beinash Batool, were jailed for life with minimum terms of 40 years and 33 years respectively in December, after being found guilty of her murder.

Her uncle, Faisal Malik, was found guilty of causing or allowing her death and jailed for 16 years.

During the meeting, Mr Evans said: "This is a tragedy that casts a shadow over this county and this council.

"Reports of the case noticed there were at least fifteen missed chances to intervene and save her life.

"In view of this, does the cabinet member still feel her position is tenable? Does she have full confidence in in everyone involved and has she asked for any resignations of those people involved? And if not, why not?"

The issue of resignations was raised during a full meeting of Surrey County Council

Clare Curran, the council's cabinet member for children, families and lifelong learning, said: "The Surrey safeguarding children's partnership is currently conducting a full and independent Safeguarding review of the circumstances of the case.

"Tragic and horrific the circumstances of that child's death are, it is not for me to speak in public ahead of the findings of that review."

Woking MP Will Forster is attempting to introduce Sara's Law, which would increase cooperation between social services and schools.

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