Crime scene and trauma cleaners

Cleaning up after a death or violent incident is often far too traumatic and potentially dangerous for family members or for regular cleaning services to undertake. Instead, it’s a task carried out by a small but specialised group of individuals – often women.

Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two female crime scene and trauma cleaners in South Africa and Northern Ireland who are the last point of contact for families after emergency services and forensic teams have completed their duties.

Alana Gillen initially made her name by taking care of the mansions of some of the Northern Ireland's richest people. She then transferred her skills and now runs the only female-led and owned company in Northern Ireland, specialising in biohazard, crime-scene and trauma cleaning.

Charleen Archibald was trained by two women, known across South Africa as ‘the blood sisters’ (Bloed Susters in Afrikaans). She’s been cleaning up crime and trauma scenes for the past ten years alongside her wife, Sheridan and says that it’s humbling to be invited into somebody’s home on what is often the worst day of their lives.

Listeners are advised that this programme will contain some sensitive content - including descriptions of the aftermath of violent crime listeners may find upsetting

Producer: Hannah Dean