Sara Sharif case was unspeakable evil - police chief

The murder of Sara Sharif was "a crime of the most unimaginable and unspeakable evil", Surrey Police's chief constable said.

Tim De Meyer told BBC Radio Surrey the situation surrounding the 10-year-old's death was "about as bad as I've ever seen".

Sara's father Urfan Sharif, 43, and stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, were jailed for life in December for her murder in Woking in 2023.

She was hooded, burned and beaten during more than two years of abuse, a trial at the Old Bailey heard.

Mr De Meyer also said the ongoing safeguarding review into the response of all agencies involved with the family leading up to Sara's death should be given adequate time.

He said: "It's very important that whilst inquiries are conducted expeditiously, they are also carried out carefully and with due process to make sure that the lessons which need to be learned, and the policies which entail, are accurate and correct."

He added: "There is always a concern that children might be at risk whilst we learn the lessons of other cases."

Mr De Meyer praised his officers and staff for their work in the investigation into Sara's death.

"Policing, I think, is best described as trying to be at our best when things for the public are at their worst," he said.

"In that case, things were about as bad as I've ever seen and my officers and staff were at their absolute best. I couldn't be more proud of what they did."

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