Neighbors hesitated to report Sara Sharif’s abuse over fear of being labeled racist

Published: 13 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Neighbours of 10-year-old Sara Sharif did not report signs of abuse to authorities because they feared being labelled racist, a safeguarding review has revealed.

Sara was found dead at her Woking, Surrey home on 10 August 2023, having suffered severe abuse including beatings, burns, hooding, and strangulation. Her father, Urfan Sharif, 43, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, 31, were sentenced to life in prison last year for her murder, following years of “inconceivable cruelty.”

Following the convictions, local authorities commissioned a safeguarding practice review to examine systemic failures. The review found that neighbours had been reluctant to alert police or social services about what they heard in the Sharif household.

“They feared being branded as being racist, especially on social media,” the report stated. “While understanding their point of view, this is concerning that race was a bar to reporting possible child abuse and it needs to be overcome.”

At the criminal trial, a former neighbour from West Byfleet recalled frequently hearing Batool “almost hysterical, screaming” at Sara and her siblings, using abusive language. Despite the disturbing noise, the witness did not contact authorities, explaining she had not seen visible injuries.

Another neighbour, living next to the family in Woking, reported hearing a “single high-pitched scream” two days before Sara’s death. Although the noise “didn’t sound good,” the neighbour did not alert the police at the time.

The review concluded with 15 recommendations aimed at improving coordination and safeguarding practices across the family court system, the Department for Education, local councils, police, and child protection services.

The case has sparked wider discussion about the barriers to reporting abuse and the need for communities to prioritise child safety over fears of social judgement.