Safeguarding review launched over Sara Sharif death

Sara was found dead at her home in Woking by police on 10 August following the receipt of a 999 call made from Pakistan by a man identifying himself as Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif.

Detectives have launched a murder investigation and are appealing to speak to Sharif, 41, his partner Beinash Batool, 29, and Urfan’s brother, Faisal Malik, 28 as part of their inquiry.

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It is believed Urfan travelled to Islamabad, Pakistan, with his partner and brother on 9 August along with five children aged between one and 13 years old, according to Surrey Police.

Surrey County Council has confirmed that Sara was “known” to the local authority prior to her death but said it could not comment further due to an ongoing safeguarding review.

Council leader Tim Oliver added that “in line with standard process following the death of a child, the National Child Safeguarding Panel has been notified of the death and a multi-agency Rapid Review is underway”.

“This Rapid Review will determine whether a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review is to be undertaken by the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership. A Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review is a statutory process, bringing together partners including the police, health, social care and education to review practice of all agencies involved, organisational structures and learning,” he said.

A post-mortem carried out on 15 August did not establish the cause of Sara’s death and further tests are being carried out, Surrey Police said.

However, it revealed that Sara had suffered multiple and extensive injuries, which are likely to have been caused over a sustained and extended period.

Detective superintendent Mark Chapman, from the Surrey Police and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, said: “While the post-mortem has not provided us with an established cause of death at this time, the fact that we now know that Sara had suffered multiple and extensive injuries over a sustained and extended period has significantly changed the nature of our investigation, and we have widened the timescale of the focus of our enquiry.

“As a result, we are trying to piece together a picture of Sara’s lifestyle but we cannot do this without the public’s help.

“That is why we are appealing for anyone who knew Sara, had any form of contact with her, or has any other information about her, no matter how insignificant it might seem, to come forward as soon as possible.”

Anyone with any information they believe will assist the inquiry is asked to Surrey Police via its information portal https://mipp.police.uk/operation/4523K72-PO2