Overview
- An independent review published by the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership concluded multiple agencies repeatedly missed opportunities to protect Sara and underestimated her father’s history as a serial domestic‑abuse perpetrator.
- Professionals failed to interrogate unexplained bruising or why the child began wearing a hijab at eight, with the report finding race and cultural sensitivities deterred scrutiny and community reporting.
- Operational errors included inadequate referrals, delays and a council worker visiting an outdated address two days before the child died.
- The review issued 15 recommendations, including mandatory multi‑agency meetings when home education is proposed for children known to social care and improvements to capacity, training and staff experience.
- Surrey County Council and police acknowledged the findings and apologized, said implementation is under way, and urged government to consider legislative reform as the parents’ murder convictions were secured last year.