FOI 498-2025 / May 2025 / Crime scene cleaners
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 498-2025
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 6th May 2025 as follows:
Q1. Does your force have an established policy or procedure regarding arranging professional cleaning of a property following a forensic investigation (e.g., after fingerprint dusting, bodily fluid collection, or other invasive evidence-gathering activities)?
If yes, please provide a copy of the current policy or procedure.
For each of the past six calendar years (2020-2025), please provide:
Q2. The number of cases where professional cleaning was arranged by the force following the investigation.
Q3. The types of location (eg residential property) for which trauma cleaning was arranged
Q4. The types of incidents where trauma cleaning was arranged (eg homicide, suicide)
Q5. Total costs for the trauma cleaning jobs
Q6. Has your force received any formal complaints from victims or property owners regarding the condition of their property after a forensic investigation in the same period? If so, please provide:
The number of complaints per year.
A summary of the nature of complaints (if available).
Q7. Which companies or contractors has your force used to carry out professional cleaning services following forensic investigations in the past five years?
Q8. In cases where your force did not arrange professional cleaning, is there a policy or guidance that leaves responsibility for cleaning to the victim or property owner? Please provide details or a copy of this guidance if it exists.
Q9. Has your force encountered situations in the past five years where professional cleaning should have been arranged but was not? If so, please provide a summary of any internal reviews, findings, or actions taken as a result.
Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Q1 response: No.
Q2 to Q9 response: Please be advised that Warwickshire Police’s forensic service provision is provided by West Midlands Police, therefore, our response is no information held.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible.
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or email the Freedom of Information Unit quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB