Modern Slavery Statement for Elephantandcastle Cleaner

Elephantandcastle Cleaner is committed to conducting business with integrity, fairness, and respect for human rights. This Modern Slavery Statement sets out our zero-tolerance policy toward modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and any form of exploitation within our operations and supply chain. We recognise that the cleaning sector can be vulnerable to hidden labour abuses, and we therefore maintain clear controls to help prevent, detect, and respond to any risk.

Our approach applies to all employees, temporary workers, contractors, and business partners associated with the Elephant and Castle cleaner name. We expect every person acting on our behalf to uphold lawful and ethical working practices. This statement reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting dignity, ensuring lawful recruitment, and promoting safe and transparent employment conditions.

We do not tolerate any practice that involves coercion, debt bondage, withheld identity documents, excessive deductions, restricted movement, or intimidation. Any breach of this policy may lead to termination of a business relationship, disciplinary action, or reporting to the relevant authorities where appropriate.

Supplier Due Diligence and Audits

To reduce risk across our supply chain, Elephantandcastle Cleaner undertakes due diligence before engaging suppliers and periodically reviews existing relationships. We assess each supplier’s labour standards, recruitment methods, wage practices, and subcontracting arrangements. Where appropriate, we require written confirmation that the supplier shares our anti-slavery commitments and maintains lawful employment practices.

Supplier audits are a key part of our prevention strategy. These may include document checks, site inspections, worker interviews, and reviews of payroll and right-to-work records. We pay close attention to indicators such as unusually long working hours, lack of freedom to leave employment, unexplained recruitment fees, or language barriers that could conceal abuse. If concerns are identified, we require corrective action plans and may suspend or end the relationship if improvements are not made.

Our procurement teams are trained to recognise risk factors linked to modern slavery in the cleaning industry, including opaque subcontracting and informal labour sourcing. We aim to work only with suppliers who can demonstrate responsible labour management and a willingness to cooperate fully during audits. This supports the wider reputation of the Elephant and Castle cleaning service as a responsible provider.

Reporting, Investigation, and Annual Review

We encourage anyone who has concerns about exploitation, unsafe labour practices, or unethical conduct to raise them promptly through our internal reporting channels. Reports may be made to line managers, senior management, or designated safeguarding personnel. All concerns are treated seriously, handled discreetly, and investigated without retaliation against the person raising the issue.

Where a report suggests possible modern slavery, we act swiftly to assess the facts, protect any affected individuals, and cooperate with specialist support services or law enforcement where necessary. Elephantandcastle Cleaner is committed to maintaining a culture in which speaking up is supported and where suspected abuse is never ignored. We also expect suppliers to maintain their own accessible reporting mechanisms for workers.

This statement is reviewed annually to ensure it remains effective, current, and aligned with legal requirements and operational changes. During the review, we consider audit findings, incident reports, supplier performance, training outcomes, and any evolving risks in our sector. The annual review helps the Elephantandcastle Cleaner team strengthen controls and improve accountability across the business.

Continuous Improvement and Responsibility

Although our business is focused on cleaning services, we understand that vigilance is essential in every part of the organisation. We will continue to improve training, supplier oversight, and internal procedures so that our Elephant and Castle cleaning operations remain firmly opposed to exploitation. Our zero-tolerance stance is not symbolic; it is an active commitment embedded in how we choose partners, manage risk, and respond to concerns.

Through consistent monitoring, ethical procurement, and open reporting, Elephantandcastle Cleaner seeks to play its part in eliminating modern slavery. We believe responsible business practice requires constant attention, practical safeguards, and a willingness to act when standards are not met.