Cookie Policy
This cookie policy explains what cookies are, how this website uses them, and how you can manage your cookie preferences. This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which provides further detail on how we handle personal data.
What Cookies Are
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet or smartphone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites function properly, to improve performance, and to provide information to site operators about how visitors use their pages.
Cookies can be “persistent” (remaining on your device until they expire or you delete them) or “session” cookies (deleted automatically when you close your browser). They can be set by the website you are visiting (“first-party cookies”) or by third-party services that operate on the site (“third-party cookies”).
How This Website Uses Cookies
This website uses a limited number of cookies for the following purposes:
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function correctly. They enable basic features such as page navigation and access to secure areas. The website cannot operate properly without these cookies, and they do not require your consent under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| cookie_consent | Stores your cookie consent preference so that the consent notice is not shown on every visit. | 12 months |
Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with this website by collecting information about which pages are visited, how long visitors spend on each page, and how they navigate between articles. The data collected is aggregated and anonymised, meaning it cannot be used to identify you personally.
Analytics cookies are only placed on your device if you provide consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time using the methods described below.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Distinguishes unique visitors by assigning a randomly generated identifier. Used to calculate visitor, session and campaign data for site analytics reports. | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Used to maintain session state across page requests. | 2 years |
Cookies We Do Not Use
This website does not use advertising cookies, remarketing cookies, social media tracking cookies or any cookies that build a profile of your browsing activity across other websites. We do not serve personalised advertisements and do not participate in any ad exchange or retargeting network.
Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies on this site are set by third-party services that we use to operate and improve the website. These include:
- Analytics providers, which set the cookies listed in the analytics section above. These services process data in accordance with their own privacy policies and under data processing agreements that we have in place.
- Font delivery services (such as Google Fonts), which may log your IP address when serving web fonts. These services generally do not set cookies but may use server-side logging for security and performance monitoring.
We do not permit any third party to use cookies placed through this website for purposes beyond those described in this policy.
How to Manage Cookies
You have the right to decide whether to accept or refuse cookies. You can manage your cookie preferences in the following ways:
Browser Settings
All major web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically find cookie controls in your browser’s “Settings,” “Preferences” or “Privacy” menu. The specific steps depend on your browser:
- Chrome: Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Cookies and Other Site Data.
- Firefox: Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Cookies and Site Data.
- Safari: Preferences, then Privacy, then Manage Website Data.
- Edge: Settings, then Cookies and Site Permissions, then Manage and Delete Cookies.
You can choose to block all cookies, block only third-party cookies, or delete cookies that have already been set. Be aware that blocking all cookies may affect the functionality of some websites, though this site will remain fully readable without cookies enabled.
Opting Out of Analytics
If you wish to prevent analytics data from being collected while browsing this site, you can install a browser opt-out add-on provided by your analytics service.
Your Rights Under UK Law
Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) and the UK GDPR, you have the right to:
- Be informed about which cookies a website uses and why, which this policy provides.
- Give or refuse consent for non-essential cookies before they are placed on your device.
- Withdraw your consent at any time by adjusting your browser settings or clearing your cookies.
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office if you believe your rights have not been respected.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this cookie policy periodically to reflect changes in the cookies we use or in applicable regulations. Any updates will be posted on this page. We recommend reviewing this policy from time to time to stay informed about how we use cookies.