Displaying items by tag: Sara Sharif

A new bill will aim to bolster child protection by empowering local councils to intervene when home environments are deemed unsafe. This proposed legislation, unveiled by education secretary Bridget Phillipson, will end the automatic right to home-school children. It will introduce mandatory registers for children not in school and unique identifier numbers to ensure no child 'falls through the cracks’. It aims to promote collaboration between schools, police, and children’s social care to enhance safeguarding measures. This comes in the wake of Sara Sharif’s tragic murder, a high-profile case which exposed systemic failures. Her removal from school and the closure of her case after six days despite clear warnings underscore the need for reform. The bill is seen as a foundation for change, emphasising the importance of improved data-sharing to prevent children from becoming invisible in the system.

The murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif has ignited calls for stronger safeguards for children, particularly those being home-schooled. Sara’s father and stepmother, convicted of her murder, had subjected her to two years of horrific abuse, prompting scrutiny of existing child protection measures. The government plans to introduce a Children's Wellbeing Bill, proposing safeguards like mandatory local authority consent for home-schooling children under protection plans, a child identifier system, and multi-agency safeguarding teams. Surrey County Council, which had been alerted to Sara’s welfare concerns before her death, is launching an independent review of its actions. Critics argue that current laws allowing at-risk children to be removed from school are inadequate. Keir Starmer emphasised the need for answers and better safeguards to prevent such tragedies. Proposals also include establishing a register for home-educated children and improving data-sharing between services to identify risks more effectively.

Urfan Sharif, father of ten-year-old Sara, has admitted responsibility for her death during his murder trial at the Old Bailey. Sharif confessed to beating her with a metal pole and other objects, inflicting severe injuries leading to her death. Despite previously blaming his wife, he now admits he ‘takes full responsibility’. In the weeks before her death, he removed Sara from school, escalated physical punishment, and bound her with tape. At the time of her death, Sara was found with multiple fractures, burns, and severe external injuries. Although Sharif acknowledged he beat her, he maintains it was intended as 'discipline,' denying intent to kill. Despite his confession, he declined to change his not guilty plea to murder. Sharif, his wife, and his brother fled to Pakistan after her death but were arrested upon their return to the UK. The trial continues as the court seeks justice for Sara.