Independent expert to review child protection after death of Sara Sharif

A motion requesting that an independent expert should review improvements made by Surrey County Council (SCC) following Sara Sharif's death has passed unanimously.

The child safeguarding practice review published in November identified multiple failings from agencies before Sara's murder in 2023 following two years of abuse, and made 15 recommendations.

Lance Spencer, a Liberal Democrat councillor, said it was "clear that the county council needs to review their processes, and their culture".

Ahead of Tuesday's debate, SCC leader Tim Oliver said the motion had cross-party support, with the council committed to implementing the review recommendations "in full".

Following the debate, the leader said: "It is right that we have that independent review just to give that additional confidence and to really focus on what the recommendations are proposing and what our improvement plan already says."

One key finding of the review was that services in Surrey failed to identify that Sara was at risk of abuse, failed to question unexplained bruising, and failed to properly investigate why Sara had started wearing a hijab.

The independent expert sought by Councillor Spencer, who represents Goldsworth East and Horsell Village, would review the culture and processes in the children, families and lifelong learning directorate which oversees social services.

He said he believed there was a "question of confidence in that department at the moment".

"They have been working quite hard to improve it, but there's still the question of whether they've gone far enough."

Another key finding from the review was that there were procedural failings after Sara was withdrawn to be home schooled in April 2023.

As required by the council homeschooling policy, Sara's new address in Woking was provided so social workers could do a home visit.

However, the system was not updated, meaning the home education team went to the wrong address when attempting to visit on 7 August, 2023.

The review found that Sara "effectively disappeared" from the point at which she became home schooled.

According to national legislation, there was no requirement for a formal discussion about this change, despite Sara's history of involvement with statutory services.

Spencer wants Councillor Oliver, a Conservative, to write to the government as he said there should be "extra measures" to ensure children in Sara's position cannot simply be taken out of school.

"That's not something that Surrey County Council can resolve, that's something that has to be resolved at a national level," he added.

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to [email protected]or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.