Crime Scene Cleaning in Bristol

Nobody should have to deal with this alone. When something terrible happens in a home or workplace, the aftermath can be overwhelming. We’re here to take that burden from you, quietly and completely.

Call us any time, day or night: 07985 505061. Or use our 24-hour emergency line: 0808 303 7072. We’re usually on site within two hours across Bristol and the surrounding area. We’re typically booked two to three weeks ahead for scheduled work, but crime scene cleaning always gets priority response.

You Don’t Need to Be There

This matters. Really matters.

We can collect keys from a solicitor, letting agent, police liaison officer, or anyone you trust. You don’t need to see the property. You don’t need to set foot inside. We’ll handle everything from entry to final sign-off, and we’ll return keys however you’d prefer.

One of our team leaders, Steve, picked up keys from a family solicitor in Clifton last year for a flat in Easton. The family lived in Cardiff and couldn’t face the journey. He sent them photos of the finished space three days later. Clean walls, fresh air, a place that felt like somewhere again.

We understand that walking back into that property might be the hardest thing you’ll ever do. Our job is to make sure that when you do, it looks and feels like a home. Not a scene.

What We Handle

Crime scene cleaning covers a wide range of situations. Not all involve crime in the legal sense. We work with:

• Violent crime scenes - assault, break-ins with bodily harm, knife and firearm incidents
• Unattended deaths - where someone has passed away and not been found for days or weeks
• Suicide cleanup - handled with absolute sensitivity and discretion
• Blood cleanup - from accidents, injuries, or medical emergencies
• Drug-related contamination - needles, residue, chemical contamination from drug use or production
• Police-released properties - once forensic teams have completed their work

Honest caveat: we can’t begin work until the police have released the scene. That timeline is out of our hands, but we’ll be ready the moment they give the all-clear.

Our Process

1. Your First Call

You’ll speak to a real person. Not a menu. We’ll ask a few straightforward questions about the situation, the property, and access. If you’d rather not go into detail, that’s fine. We’ll work with whatever you can tell us.

2. Assessment

We’ll visit the property (or work from police reports and photos if you prefer) and give you a clear scope of work. For insurance claims, we document everything thoroughly from this point.

3. Biohazard Removal

All blood, bodily fluids, and contaminated materials are removed and disposed of according to the Environment Agency’s guidelines. We hold full hazardous waste carrier licences. Every item leaves the property in sealed, regulation containers.

4. Deep Cleaning and Decontamination

We use hospital-grade disinfectants and ATP testing to verify surfaces are safe. Carpets, underlay, soft furnishings, and even sections of flooring or plasterboard are removed if contamination has soaked through. We don’t cut corners here. If it needs to come out, it comes out.

5. Odour Elimination

This is where many companies fall short. Blood and decomposition odours can persist for months if not treated properly. We use thermal fogging and hydroxyl generators, not just air fresheners. The smell has to be gone, not masked. Our odour removal service page explains the science in more detail.

6. Final Inspection and Handover

We photograph the completed work, provide all waste transfer documentation, and prepare whatever paperwork your insurance company needs. Keys are returned to whoever you’ve nominated.

Complete Discretion

Unmarked vehicles. Our vans carry no company branding. Your neighbours won’t know why we’re there.

Plain clothing. Our team wears generic workwear on site. PPE goes on inside the property, not on the doorstep.

Confidentiality. We never discuss our work with anyone outside the agreed contacts. Full stop.

No social media. We will never photograph your property for marketing purposes. Ever. In our opinion, companies that post before-and-after shots of trauma scenes are acting appallingly. It’s someone’s worst day. It’s not content.

Who Pays for Crime Scene Cleaning in the UK?

This is one of the first questions people ask, and rightly so. The answer depends on the circumstances.

Home insurance. Most buildings and contents policies cover crime scene cleaning and biohazard decontamination under “insured events.” We’ll liaise directly with your insurer and provide all the documentation they need. We’ve worked with AXA, Aviva, Admiral, Direct Line, and most other major UK insurers.

Landlord insurance. If the property is rented, the landlord’s insurance typically covers the cleaning costs. We work closely with letting agents across Bristol, including CJ Hole, Ocean, and Andrews.

Local authority. Bristol City Council and some housing associations will cover costs for council-owned properties. We can help you navigate this process.

Victim Support and other charities. In some cases, Victim Support can help with funding or signposting to financial help. We’re happy to point you in the right direction.

Private payment. If none of the above applies, we offer straightforward pricing with no hidden fees. We can break larger jobs into stages if that helps with budgeting.

We’re insured to 2 million through AXA. That’s not a sales pitch. It’s there so you know we’re a proper operation with proper cover. See our insurance sector page for more on how we work with insurers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does crime scene cleanup cost?

It depends on the size of the area, the type of contamination, and how long it’s been left. A single-room blood cleanup might start from around 500. A full property decontamination after an unattended death could run into several thousand. We’ll always give you a clear quote before we start, and we’ll tell you if insurance is likely to cover it.

Is crime scene cleaning covered by insurance?

In most cases, yes. Home insurance, landlord insurance, and commercial property insurance usually cover biohazard cleaning as part of an insured event. We handle the paperwork and communicate directly with your insurer so you don’t have to chase anything.

How quickly can you start?

We respond 24/7, 365 days a year. For crime scenes, we treat every call as urgent. We’re typically on site within two hours across Bristol, Bath, Weston-super-Mare, and the BS postcode area. The only delay is waiting for police to release the scene.

Do I need to be there during cleaning?

No. This is something we feel strongly about. You shouldn’t have to be there if you don’t want to be. We can collect keys, manage the entire process, and return keys when finished. Many of our clients never visit the property at all during the work.

What happens to contaminated items?

Everything is disposed of through licensed hazardous waste carriers in line with Environment Agency regulations. You’ll receive full waste transfer documentation. Nothing leaves the property without proper handling and paperwork.

Can you work with the police?

Yes. We regularly work alongside Avon and Somerset Police and understand the protocols around scene release. We won’t interfere with any ongoing investigation, and we can coordinate timing with your police liaison officer.

Do you clean up after forensic teams?

We do. Forensic teams focus on evidence collection, not cleaning. They’ll often leave fingerprint dust, chemicals, and residues behind. We remove all of that as part of our standard service.

IICRC Certified. 25 Years in Bristol.

We’ve been doing this for a quarter of a century. Our team holds IICRC certification in trauma and crime scene cleanup. That’s not a weekend course. It’s the industry standard recognised across the UK, US, and Europe.

We’re based at 290-294 Southmead Road, Bristol BS10 5EN. Local company, local knowledge, local accountability. If something’s not right, you know where to find us.

Related Services

Sometimes crime scene cleaning overlaps with other specialist work. These pages might be relevant to your situation:

• Trauma cleaning - for situations that don’t involve a crime but still require specialist biohazard handling
• Odour removal - standalone odour treatment for properties where the source has been dealt with but the smell remains
• Void property cleaning - for landlords and agents preparing a property to be re-let after an incident
• Insurance sector - how we work with insurance companies and loss adjusters

Call Us Now

If you’re reading this page, chances are you’re going through something awful. We’re sorry you’re here.

Pick up the phone and let us take it from here.

07985 505061 - available 24/7

Emergency line: 0808 303 7072

Email: hello@bristolcleaningheroes.co.uk

You don’t need to know the details. You don’t need a plan. Just call, and we’ll walk you through everything.