A dirt separation device

A dirt separation device for a surface cleaning apparatus. It has a cyclonic separator that includes a first and second separating chambers and first and second dirt collection chambers, a shroud, a dirt collection chamber and a cover that allows access to the dirt collection chamber. The cover has a rotationally moveable actuator, or an engagement part 138 connected to the actuator 120 which is rotationally moveable or moves along an arcuate path, and where the actuator is connected to the shroud so that rotation of the actuator causes rotation of the shroud. The engagement part may be in the dirt collection chamber and may engage with the cover to hold retain the cover. There may be a feature on the cover 142 that interacts with the engagement part and which may be positioned on a part of the cover that forms the collection chamber. The second chamber may be positioned within the shroud. A surface cleaning apparatus or suction cleaner is also claimed that includes the dirt separation device. This may have a handle with an elongate axis (C) which sits within a plane (P1) and the dirt collection chamber may intersect that plane.