QUESTIONS MUST BE ANSWERED OVER 'AWFUL' CASE

Prime Minister Starmer leads calls for action after shocking murder of Sara Sharif

- Paul Jeeves

MAJOR fears that murdered Sara Sharif was likely to be abused were raised throughout her short life, papers show.

Sir Keir Starmer said there are "questions to be answered" over the "awful and shocking" killing of the 10-year-old as it emerged that the council executive in charge of the social services department responsible for Sara's safety was handed an OBE in this year's King's Birthday Honours.

It also became clear that 15 chances were missed to save Sara from her violent dad Urfan, with issues raised about her care within a week of her birth in 2013. Sara's father and mother were made known to social services in 2010.

Details from family court proceedings that can now be reported show how Surrey County Council repeatedly raised "significant concerns" that Sara was likely to suffer physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her parents, amid allegations that Urfan Sharif was physically abusing her and her siblings.

Despite three sets of family court proceedings Sara was repeatedly returned to her parents' care.

A custody battle resulted in her being placed with her father and stepmother Beinash Batool at their home in Woking in 2019, where she was murdered by them in 2023 following years of abuse. An order imposed yesterday bans the identification of any professionals involved in the cases, including social services staff and judges.