The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (the Regulations) cover the use of cookies and similar technologies for storing information, and accessing information stored, on a user's equipment such as their computer or mobile. Recent legislation means that all websites need to disclose any information that a website stores in cookies and obtain consent by the user where cookies are used.
This is because cookies can potentially be used to store personal information or to monitor a user's activities online.
A cookie is a small file, typically of letter and numbers, downloaded on to a device when the user accesses certain websites. Cookies are then sent back to originating website on each subsequent visit. Cookies are useful because they allow a website to recognise a user's device. The Regulations apply to cookies and also to similar technologies for storing information. This could include, for example, Local Shared Objects.
The use of cookies and similar technologies has for some time been commonplace and cookies in particular are important in the provision of many online services. Using such technologies is not, therefore, prohibited by the Regulations but they do require that people are told about cookies and given the choice as to which of their online activities are monitored in this way. This Policy explains how our websites use cookies.
For more information see: http://www.allaboutcookies.org/
We only use session cookies which are essential in providing specific services you have requested from us. Session cookies are stored on your computer and remain available for the duration of your visit to our websites. When you close your browser, any session cookies that have been set will be automatically removed from your computer’s memory.
This type of cookie is essential to the running of the site as it allows us to maintain your session on the website, after you have logged in. In order to avoid requiring users to login repeatedly to access different parts of the website, we use session cookies to securely identify users. In order to maximise the security of our services, this type of cookie also allows our websites to automatically log you off after 10 minutes of inactivity.