Woking MP tables child protection proposals inspired by Sara Sharif

A proposed law change named in memory of Sara Sharif has been tabled in Parliament in a bid to better protect vulnerable children.

Liberal Democrat MP Will Forster warned there is an "unacceptable inequality" in how local authorities interpret thresholds for an intervention under existing legislation.

Mr Forster said 10-year-old Sara was known to social services but the response was "not sufficient" to protect her from "years of torture and slavery at the hands that were supposed to love her".

Sara was found dead in a bunkbed at the family home in Woking, Surrey, in August 2023.

She had suffered 71 recent injuries at the time of her death.

Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool were jailed for life with minimum terms of 40 years and 33 years respectively in December last year, after being found guilty of her murder.

Sara's uncle, Faisal Malik, was found guilty of causing or allowing her death and jailed for 16 years.

Mr Forster, the MP for Woking, raised his concerns as he discussed "Sara's Law", an amendment he has tabled to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

He said: "Knowing what happened to Sara, we know the system isn't protecting vulnerable children like it should."

Mr Forster went on to warn that children at risk in one council area may receive early help if a family is in crisis while in another they are left without the support that could "save their life".

He said: "Every child in this country has effectively been entered into a postcode lottery and we are gambling with their lives by not attempting to repair that flaw."

Mr Forster's new clause 33 seeks to reduce regional variations in the type, frequency and duration of support that children receive through child in need plans.

He said: "This new clause is about accountability, consistency and most importantly protection.

"We cannot continue to accept a system where a child's safety depends on geography and resource rather than need."

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