1. Introduction
The use of Cookies is governed by Article 6 of PECR (The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations) which states that websites must:
- tell people the cookies are there;
- explain what the cookies are doing and why; and
- get the person’s consent to store a cookie on their device.
PECR sits alongside the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and provides the specific rules in relation to privacy and electronic communications.
The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) guidance on cookies (dated 3 July 2019) addresses cookies and similar technologies in detail and we regularly review our policy in line with guidelines issued and in accordance with the appropriate legislation.
2. What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small file, usually consisting of just letters and numbers that we send to your computer or other device, such as a mobile phone, when you access the TMCP website or the Trust Information System (TIS). Cookies do lots of different jobs, like letting you navigate between pages efficiently, storing your preferences, and generally making the interaction between users and websites faster and easier.
3. How do TMCP’s website and the TIS use cookies?
TMCP website (www.tmcp.org.uk)
The TMCP website sets Google Analytics cookies. We use Google Analytics to monitor and analyse how the TMCP website is working, which areas are most popular and a number of quality indicators.
On the TMCP website, these cookies collect information about how visitors use our website e.g. which pages visitors use most often and to count the numbers of visitors to the website. These cookies enable TMCP to analyse how to serve our visitors and improve the website. These cookies do not collect information that would identify who the visitor to the website was. All the information is anonymous. The TMCP website, a small number of these cookies which are:
'_ga',
'_gat'; and
'_gid'.
Google Analytics generates anonymous statistical and other information about website use through cookies, which are stored on users' computers. The information generated relating to the TMCP website is used by TMCP to create reports about the use of the TMCP website. Google will store this information. Google's privacy policy is available at: http://www.google.com/privacypolicy.html
Additional cookies may sometimes be set by third-party services used through the TMCP website, over which we have no control. These include but are not necessarily limited to Google and YouTube. These cookies can be turned off or disabled.
None of the analytical cookies set out above contain any personal data or information that could be used to identify a user personally. The sole purpose of the cookies is to improve the functionality and quality of service of the TMCP website.
The TMCP website uses two Strictly Necessary Cookies’ which are not optional. These cookies are created when a visitor access the site and are necessary to allow the visitor to navigate the website.
Trust Information System (tis.tmcp.org.uk)
On the Trust Information System (TIS), a cookie is used to enable the site to function correctly when you log on. This is necessary for the site to operate and you will need to accept the cookies to enable the TIS to function correctly. The TIS will not work without the cookies and it uses ‘Strictly Necessary Cookies’.
Strictly Necessary Cookies enable the services on the TIS that you specifically want to use. The cookie is only used to temporarily store a unique identifying value on the user's device. That value links to a session held on the TIS which allows the user to move from page to page without requiring a new Sign In on each page.
No other values are stored within the cookie and the web browser should discard the cookie once the user leaves the TIS or they close the browser window (dependent on how things have been implemented internally within a user’s own web browser application).
A new cookie is created when a user returns to the TIS. The cookie is not used by any website other than the TIS website.
The TIS uses the following Strictly Necessary Cookie:
| Cookie name: | ASP.NET_SessionId |
| Provider: | tis.tmcp.org.uk |
| Type: | HTTP |
| Expiry: | Session |
If I accept the cookies can I then choose to disable the cookies at a later date?
Yes. Most browsers allow you to refuse to accept any cookies.
TMCP website
New users to the TMCP website will be given the choice to accept the analytic cookies or not. We will also regularly ask users to reconfirm consent, especially if any changes are made to the way we collect or use the data from the cookies. The user also has the option to manage cookies through their internet browser.
Find out how to manage cookies on popular browsers:
To find information relating to other browsers, please visit the browser developer's website.
You can also withdraw consent to the TMCP website collecting analytic cookies through Google Analytics by visiting http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Trust Information System (TIS)
The Strictly Necessary Cookies used by the TIS are necessary to the functionality and usability of the TIS. These cookies are essential to the use of the TIS. If you adjust your browser settings so that it refuses cookies then you will be unable to use the TIS effectively.
Further information
To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set, visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org.
ICO guidance on Cookies and similar technologies visit: ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/guide-to-pecr/guidance-on-the-use-of-cookies-and-similar-technologies-1-0.pdf