Cookies

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a file containing an identifier (a string of letters and numbers) that is sent by a web server to a web browser and is stored by the browser. The identifier is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server.

Cookies may be either “persistent” cookies or “session” cookies: a persistent cookie will be stored by a web browser and will remain valid until its set expiry date unless deleted by the user before the expiry date; a session cookie, on the other hand, will expire at the end of the user session, when the web browser is closed.

Cookies do not typically contain any information that personally identifies a user, but personal information that we store about you may be linked to the information stored in and obtained from cookies.

Parts of this website require the use of cookies known as “session cookies”. These cookies allow us to keep track of whether or not you are logged in and authorised to use certain parts of the system. While not every part of this website requires the use of cookies certain parts such as your control panel or administration interface require the use of these “session cookies”. On their own session cookies do not contain any personal information regarding who you are, they are simply random bytes of information used as identifiers by our software.

Managing cookies

Most browsers allow you to refuse to accept cookies and to delete cookies. The methods for doing so vary from browser to browser, and from version to version. You can however obtain up-to-date information about blocking and deleting cookies via these links: