Cookies

Information about the cookies we use to assist you when using the website and improve your user experience.

1. What are Cookies?

A cookie is a piece of information in the form of a small text file. Our website generates and sets cookies and places them on your computer’s hard drive.

Cookies make your interaction with our website faster and easier. We use them to remember your preferences between pages and site visits.

They are not computer programs, and they don't execute as code. Cookies cannot access any information on your computer. They cannot read any other information saved there, such as your e-mail address. Cookies can’t be used to identify you personally.

We use cookies to save you time and make your browsing experience more efficient. Without cookies you would have to set your preferences on each page you visit. They also record anonymous statistics. These tell us which parts of the website are popular and how many different people visit the site. 

2. Types of Cookies we use

Strictly necessary cookies, performance cookies, functionality cookies, targeting cookies.

We use necessary cookies and analytics cookies.

Necessary cookies

Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as page navigation and access to secure areas. The website cannot function properly without these cookies and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.

  • has_js. Registers whether the user has activated JavaScript in the browser. This expires at the end of the browser session.
  • jStorage. Registers a unique ID for the visitor in order for the website to recognise the visitor upon re-entry. This is a persistent cookie that is stored on your device in-between sessions.
  • rc::a. This is used to distinguish between humans and robots. It is beneficial for the website, in order to make valid reports on the use of the website. This is a persistent cookie that is stored on your device in-between sessions.
  • rc::c. This cookie is used to distinguish between humans and robots. This expires at the end of the browser session.

Analytics cookies

Analytics cookies help us to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on its usage. Cookies can’t be used to identify you personally.

  • _ga. Installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session and campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assign a randomly generated number to identify unique visitors. It expires in two years.
  • _gat. Installed by Google Analytics to throttle the request rate to limit the collection of data on high traffic sites. It expires in one minute.
  • _gid. Installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the website is doing. The data collected includes: the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages visited in an anonymous form. It lasts for one day.

Read Google's overview of privacy and safeguarding data

3. How we use Cookies

To remember preferences, analyse site traffic and usage, and improve services.

4. Managing Cookies

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.

Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings. To find out more about cookies, visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org

Find out how to manage cookies on popular browsers:

To find information relating to other browsers, visit the browser developer's website.

To opt-out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites, visit http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

To read more about cookies, visit the Information Commissioner’s website.

5. Third-party Cookies

We may use third-party services that set cookies for analytics

6. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy periodically. Any updates will be reflected on this page. 

7. Contact us

Email: people-dpt-spcc-enquiries@mod.gov.uk

Address: Office of the Service Police Complaints Commissioner, 6.B.50, Ministry of Defence Main Building, Horse Guards Avenue, London, SW1A 2HB.