Inexperienced social worker did not identify Sara Sharif’s father as posing any risk

The murdered girl had been allowed to live with her father, who had repeatedly attracted the attention of police and social workers

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An inexperienced social worker tasked by a local authority with assessing Sara Sharif’s parents did not identify her father as posing any risk despite noting safeguarding concerns.

The social worker’s report, described as “very thorough”, was submitted as evidence ahead of a final hearing in 2019 at which a senior judge made the ultimate decision that Sara should live with her father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, who were last week found guilty of murdering the 10-year-old schoolgirl.