Dealing with the aftermath of violent crime takes training, commitment and dedication. The emergency services, such as the police, paramedics and firefighters, are exposed to traumatic crime scenes on a regular basis, and for this, they deserve our respect and admiration.
However, once their role is over, someone must clean up the mess left behind.
That's when Clean Team Scotland can step in with our professional crime scene cleaning services. We work closely with Police Scotland and regional Scottish crime squads to ensure that crime scenes are sanitised, safe and free from contamination.
We fully understand the hazards involved and that these incidents require swift action; our expert technicians are available at short notice 24 hours a day and can be on scene within two hours.
Due to the nature of the work, crime scene cleaning is also known as trauma cleaning. In some cases, a crime scene cleaner will be working on a murder scene, which requires mental strength and a strong character.
Because of this, we hand-pick our experts to ensure they can cope with the unsettling and distressing scenes they might encounter, and train them to work with integrity, sensitivity and professionalism. We also offer advice and support following a visit to a crime scene to help our staff overcome any issues they may have.
Following a violent crime or traumatic incident (like a road traffic collision), the site can contain vital evidence that the police will require.
Once they have 'released the scene' and all evidence is secure, the site must be cleaned professionally. Under no circumstances should anyone ever assume they can do this themselves.
Crime scene cleaners are absolutely necessary due to the potentially infectious materials involved. These include blood and other bodily fluids, hazardous waste (including syringes), and other dangerous substances. There's a real chance that the cleaners will be exposed to HIV/AIDS, hepatitis c and b, viruses, bacteria and bloodborne pathogens of all kinds.
Victims of violent crime are frequently discovered within houses or industrial buildings, many of them derelict or abandoned, and these carry their own hazards and health risks.
In the case of undiscovered deaths, the victim may have been deceased for a long period of time, resulting in an advanced state of decomposition. While the remains will probably have been removed by the time the trauma cleaning services arrive, bodily fluids and other matter will still be present, along with strong odours that need to be dealt with professionally.
A crime scene cleaning team will usually attend industrial accidents or road traffic collisions, many of which can be horrific in nature.
While not all of these involve an actual crime, they do require investigation and a swift clean-up operation to ensure that traffic can flow freely or that the business can operate with minimal disruption.
These types of traumatic incidents need special handling and can't be left to those without specialist training.
Easily book your cleaning service with our straightforward online form – convenient and hassle-free.
Once booked, you’ll receive a prompt confirmation, securing your chosen service date and time.
Let us handle the work while you relax. Enjoy the results of a professional, thorough clean tailored to your needs.
Our involvement begins the moment we receive a call to attend a crime scene, and we dispatch a rapid response team to the site, ready to liaise with the authorities.
Once they have given the all-clear, we spring into action:
This stage is vital, as we need to assess any potential risks and hazards and determine exactly what we are dealing with. The process is undertaken as quickly as possible, although it must be done thoroughly for the safety of our workers. At all times, our cleaning technicians will wear full personal protective equipment (PPE).
Any potentially infectious materials or other hazardous waste will be identified, and items such as needles (sharps) will be noted.
Every stage of the cleaning process is documented and copies are made available to those who need them (typically for insurance purposes, but also for the authorities involved).
Once the crime scene has been made safe, the cleaning team can get to work.
Any hazardous materials are removed and disposed of responsibly at local hazardous waste disposal depots.
Depending on the type and severity of the crime or traumatic incident, furniture, carpets, fabrics and soft furnishings may be contaminated, particularly in the event of an unattended death that remains undiscovered for a long time.
All affected items will be disposed of before the next stage.
The affected areas are disinfected and decontaminated using powerful chemical agents and professional trauma cleaning methods.
While the focus is centred on the affected area, all surrounding surfaces are scrubbed down by hand. This ensures that the entire area is free from contaminants and potentially harmful pathogens.
We may employ the use of a ULV fogger, a machine that delivers a fine mist of disinfectant over a large area. The mist travels through the air and lands on surfaces, making it ideal for decontaminating both.
Once we are satisfied that the contaminated areas have been made safe, we test and test again to be certain.
The final stage of our trauma clean operation involves deep cleaning and deodorising the site.
Sites where traumatic incidents have taken place can often be contaminated by foul and unpleasant odours. While the ULV fogger may handle this problem, sometimes a more powerful method is required.
For this, we use the Biosweep - a highly effective method that pumps pure oxygen and hydrogen peroxide into the vicinity. This mixture breaks down particles in the air and on surrounding surfaces, removing VOCs, bacteria, viruses and mould spores. It also eliminates 100% of any lingering odours, leaving the air completely clear and fresh.
A team leader will inspect the site to ensure that everything has been completed to our exacting standards. Any issues will be addressed without delay and the crime scene cleaners will leave the site.
The project will then be signed off and copies of the report made available to the relevant parties.
While most people may believe that the emergency services deal with this aspect, property owners are fully responsible for crime scene cleanup in most cases.
So, who cleans up crime scenes? Once the police have given clearance for cleaning work to go ahead, it's up to the property owner to ensure that professional trauma cleaning services are called in.
With a broad spectrum of experience in all areas of the cleaning industry, our specialist teams offer professional cleaning services that are second to none.
They are trained to safely remove biohazard waste and any hazardous material encountered during the process, avoiding cross-contamination at all times. While there are no formal education requirements to become a crime scene cleaner, we ensure that all operatives are fully trained and prepared to handle all aspects of biohazard cleaning.
This includes mental preparation, as these scenarios are often challenging and distressing. It's likely that, while human remains have been removed, there can be excessive amounts of blood and other bodily fluids and biological material to deal with.
We strive to put public health and safety first, ensuring that our staff are fully up to date with current regulations.
This is in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, as well as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.
The average cost of a crime scene cleaning service in the UK is around £3,500.
However we cover this in a little more detail in our post “how much does trauma cleaning cost?” It can vary, as the true cost depends on the following factors:
It's important to recognise that these are specialist cleaners, many of whom have attended a forensic cleaning course. A trauma cleaner will be expected to handle hazardous waste, human waste, sharps removal, etc. These are highly trained technicians who must remain calm and professional at trauma scenes, restoring the site to a safe and sanitary condition.
While it's unlikely that a violent crime will take place on your property, it's best to check to see if your insurance covers issues like this as you may be able to claim the cost of using a trauma cleaning service.
It's impossible to know without a full assessment of the facts, although we usually complete trauma scene cleaning within two to four hours. This is generally the standard time taken for a typical crime scene cleaning session.
In severe cases, however, (involving multiple victims, excessive violence or long-term unattended deaths) the clean-up process for a trauma incident can take forty-eight hours or more.
We understand that whether dealing with industrial, commercial or domestic customers, you want your premises to be a safe environment as soon as possible.
Our crime scene cleaning services are geared towards acting swiftly, efficiently and professionally, causing as little disruption and inconvenience as possible. Even so, this process cannot be hurried and we have an ethical and legal duty to ensure the regulations are followed to the letter.
It's essential that the police are made aware of any potential crime scene as soon as possible, as vital time-sensitive evidence may be lost.
It's also important that the scene is not disturbed in any way until after the authorities have had a chance to investigate.
Our work only begins once the crime scene has been officially released for cleaning to take place.
If you discover a potential crime scene, your first duty is to alert the authorities*. When a violent crime takes place, the evidence is usually obvious and distressing. Try to stay calm and call 999 to describe the scene in as much detail as possible. The police will arrive soon and take a statement from you.
*Your safety is also paramount - do not remain at the scene if there is any immediate danger or threat!
In the event that you discover a possible violent crime scene with no obvious victim(s) present, you still need to alert the police. In these cases, the 101 service will be happy to take your call and a team will be dispatched to investigate.
Our expert technicians possess a good understanding of crime scene and trauma clean-up scenarios.
As a trusted cleaning company, Clean Team Scotland is the obvious choice for dealing with crime scenes of all types, particularly where biohazardous materials are involved.
In such a challenging field, professional cleaning services are paramount. Once the emergency services have completed their tasks, you need a competent and skilled team to take over the clean-up process.
When the need arises, Clean Team Scotland is ready to answer the call, with precision, professionalism and efficiency.
Crime scene cleaning involves the safe and thorough cleaning, sanitisation, and decontamination of areas where a traumatic event or crime has occurred. This service is specialised to remove biological hazards such as blood, bodily fluids, and other contaminants.
The time required to clean a crime scene varies depending on the severity and size of the area. Smaller incidents may take a few hours, while more complex scenes could take one or two days to ensure proper cleaning and decontamination.
Professional crime scene cleaning is necessary to properly handle hazardous materials and ensure full decontamination. It is vital for health and safety, as improper cleaning can lead to long-term health risks and potential legal issues.
The cost of crime scene cleaning in the UK varies depending on the type of incident, the location, and the extent of cleaning required. Typically, prices range from £200 to £1,500 or more for complex situations, including biohazard disposal and specialised equipment.
Crime scene cleaning may be covered by your home or business insurance, depending on the policy. Many policies cover the costs related to biohazard cleaning, but it's important to check with your insurance provider for specific details.
Yes, professional crime scene cleaners are typically licensed and certified. They must adhere to strict health and safety regulations, and most are trained in biohazardous waste disposal and trauma scene decontamination.