Cookie notice

The Website uses cookies. This Cookie Notice sets out information about cookies and how to control them. By using the Website, you accept the use of cookies in accordance with this Cookie Notice. In particular, you accept the use of Analytics Cookies for the purposes described below. 

What are cookies?

A 'cookie' is a piece of information, like a tag, which some websites create against your computer. The 'cookies' we use log your progress through the site and record how you accessed the site. They do not collect information that identifies you.

This use of cookies is important for us to understand how users use our Website. It enables us to track its usability, how easily visitors can find the information they need and the hardware and software they use when accessing the site.

What cookies do we use?

  • CFID - to provide transaction support across multiple page requests commonly called a session
  • CFTOKEN - to provide transaction support across multiple page requests commonly called a session
  • Sessionname - to know which error message to display (if a member has been logged out of a session or has not logged in) – applies only to MyGOC area
  • cookies_agree - When a user closes the banner it installs a cookie so that the banner will not show again

The cookies CFID and CFTOKEN are used within the MyGOC section:

  • To facilitate registrant log in
  • To facilitate page redirect after registrant log-in
  • To store registrant details after registrant log-in
  • To store registrant activity log on registrant restricted area
  • To store online payment details

And within the main website:

  • To store search results in several search templates
  • To store form token for form validation

Cookies set by third party websites

The cookies in the table below are set by the Google Analytics tool. They allow us to accurately estimate the number of visitors to the Website, volumes of usage and ensure that the Website is available. They help us to understand how visitors use the Website and which content is popular and unpopular. They also help us to fulfil our obligations under the Equality Act and our Equality and Diversity Scheme, and to appropriately tailor the design, content and structure of the Website to our audience. Information collected by the Google Analytics cookies will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States of America in accordance with its privacy practices.

Our website uses the following Google Analytics Cookies:

  • _utma - to accurately estimate the number of visitors to the Website and volumes of usage, to ensure that the Website is available, to understand how visitors use the Website and which content is popular and unpopular and to appropriately tailor the design, content and structure of the Website to our audience
  • _utmb - as above
  • _utmc - as above
  • _utmz - as above

How to control and delete cookies through the browser

If you do not want cookies to be created on your computer, the four major browsers which the Website supports give you the option to disable or delete them. We do not recommend using other browsers, as the Website has not been tested with them and may not work as intended. You can disable or delete cookies in your browser by following instructions at the following links:

Please note that MyGOC will be unavailable if you choose to disable cookies. Please also note that disabling a cookie or category of cookie does not delete the cookie from your browser, you will need to do this yourself from within your browser.

Cookies that have been set in the past

If you have disabled one or more Analytics Cookies, we may still use information collected from cookies prior to your disabled preference being set, however, we will stop using the disabled cookie to collect any further information.