In the wake of the heartbreaking death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) has announced the commencement of a safeguarding review. The examination will scrutinise the actions of all agencies involved with the young girl’s family, encompassing the realms of police, health, social care, and education.

Sara Sharif was found lifeless at her home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10. Her father, Urfan Sharif, stepmother Beinash Batool, and uncle Faisal Malik are facing charges of her murder.

Derek Benson, the independent chairman of the SSCP, expressed condolences and stated, “Following Sara’s tragic death in Woking, I can confirm that a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review (LCSPR) will be undertaken. This review will be independently led by the SSCP and is a statutory process that will bring together partners, including the police, health, social care, and education, to review the practice of all agencies involved with the family and identify any learning.”

Benson acknowledged that the process would take time, and the findings might not be shared until the SSCP is certain that doing so won’t prejudice any future legal proceedings.

The accused trio—Sara’s father, stepmother, and uncle—are scheduled to stand trial in September next year, with a plea hearing slated for December 1 at the Old Bailey. The safeguarding review aims to comprehensively assess the involvement of various agencies and identify potential areas for improvement in safeguarding procedures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.