Grim reality of cleaning North East crime scenes

TYNESIDER TONY EARNSHAW AND HIS TEAM TACKLE SOME OF THE MOST GRUESOME HAZARDS IN THE NORTH EAST

- By KALI LINDSAY

A BUSINESSMAN has shared what it’s like behind the scenes of cleaning up after some of the North East’s most gruesome crimes.

Tony Earnshaw, who is founder and chief executive of UK Commercial Group, and his team face harrowing scenes as they are tasked with cleanups - from stabbings to cannabis farms and needle sweeps.

While many may think it is a case of going in to clear up blood, the reality is far more grisly as the team face hazardous environments rigged with booby traps and needles. Tony, 41, said: "I think people think it is cleaning up blood and bodily spillages but it is very technical and there are a lot of health and safety aspects. There is a lot of training and planning behind it. My responsibility is to keep my staff safe and make the property safe.

"They don’t booby-trap it thinking we are going in. They think it is the council or housing association that they are upset with because they have been evicted or given an ASBO.

"They booby-trap it thinking the landlord will go in but obviously it is us. If it is a drug den or cannabis farm we have to get eyes within the property so nobody has been in. If it is a local housing or council, or known perpetrator living there, they will call us."