MAKE YOUR FREE Cookie Policy
What we'll cover
What is a Cookie Policy?
When should I use a Cookie Policy?
- when you operate a website (eg an e-commerce website or a blog) that uses cookies
- to inform website visitors about the cookies your website uses
- if you are based in England, Wales or Scotland
Sample Cookie Policy
The terms in your document will update based on the information you provide
This document has been customised over 2.9K times
Documents and communicates
Complies with relevant laws
Ask a lawyer questions about your document
COOKIE POLICY
Scope of This Policy
- (we or us or our) uses cookies when you visit our website, , (the Website) to help customise the Website and improve your experience using the Website.
- This Policy applies between you, the user of this Website, and us,, the owner and provider of this Website.
- When you visit the Website, and before your Website places cookies on your computer, you will be presented with a message bar requesting your consent to set those cookies. By giving your consent to the placing of cookies, you are enabling us to provide a better experience and service. You may, if you wish, deny consent to the placing of these cookies; however, certain features of the Website may not function fully or as intended.
What Are Cookies?
- A cookie is a small text file placed on your computer by this Website when you visit certain parts of the Website and/or when you use certain features of the Website.
- This Website may place and access certain cookies on your computer. We use these cookies to improve your experience of using the Website and to improve our range of.
- Cookies do not usually contain any information that personally identifies you, as the Website user. However, personal information that we store about you may be linked to the information obtained from and stored in cookies.
Types of Cookies
- This Website uses the following cookies:
Type of cookie Purpose Strictly necessary cookies These are cookies that are required for the operation of the Website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of the Website, use a shopping cart or make use of e-billing services.
Functionality cookies These are used to recognise you when you return to our Website. This enables us to personalise our content for you, greet you by name and remember your preferences (for example, your choice of language or region). By using the Website, you agree to our placement of functionality cookies. - You can find a list of the cookies that we use in the attached Cookie Schedule.
- We have carefully chosen these cookies and have taken steps to ensure that your privacy is protected and respected at all times.
How To Control Your Cookies
- You can choose to enable or disable cookies in your internet browser. By default, most internet browsers accept cookies but this can be changed. For further details, please see the help menu in your internet browser.
- You can switch off cookies at any time, however, you may lose information that enables you to access the Website more quickly and efficiently.
- It is recommended that you ensure that your internet browser is up-to-date and that you consult the help and guidance provided by the developer of your internet browser if you are unsure about adjusting your privacy settings.
- For more information generally on cookies, including how to disable them, please refer to aboutcookies.org. You will also find details on how to delete cookies from your computer.
Changes To This Policy
- reserves the right to change this Cookie Policy as we may deem necessary from time to time or as may be required by law. Any changes will be immediately posted on the Website and you are deemed to have accepted the terms of the Cookie Policy on your first use of the Website following the alterations.
Contact Details
- The Website is owned by.
- You may contact us:
Attribution
- This Cookie Policy was created using a document from Rocket Lawyer (https://www.rocketlawyer.com/gb/en).
This Policy was created on .
COOKIE SCHEDULE
Below is a list of the cookies that we use. We have tried to ensure this is complete and up to date, but if you think that we have missed a cookie or there is any discrepancy, please let us know.
Cookies that we use on the Website:
Strictly Necessary Cookies
We use the following strictly necessary cookies:
Name of cookie | Purpose of cookie |
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Functionality Cookies
We use the following functionality cookies:
Name of cookie | Purpose of cookie |
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About Cookie Policies
Learn more about making your Cookie Policy
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How to make a Cookie Policy
Making a Cookie Policy online is simple. Just answer a few questions and Rocket Lawyer will build your document for you. When you have all of the details prepared in advance, making your document is a quick and easy process.
To make your Cookie Policy you will need the following information:
Website owner
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What are the details of the website owner (eg their legal structure, name and address)?
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Can the website owner be contacted:
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By post? What is the website owner’s postal address?
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By telephone? What is the website owner’s telephone number?
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By email? What is the website owner’s email address?
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Through a contact form on the website?
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Website
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What is the website address (ie the URL)?
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Does the website have a Privacy policy?
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If so, what is the URL of the privacy policy?
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Does the website sell products and/or services?
Cookies
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Which strictly necessary cookies does the website use and for what purposes?
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Which functionality cookies does the website use and for what purposes?
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Does the website use:
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Analytical or performance cookies? If so, what analytical or performance cookies does the website use and why?
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Targeting cookies? If so, what targeting cookies does the website use and why?
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Does the website have a cookie preference centre?
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If so, what is the URL of the cookie preference centre?
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Date
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On what date is this Cookie Policy made?
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Common terms in a Cookie Policy
By making a Cookie Policy you make sure that your website users are aware of the types of cookies the website uses, what they do, and why they are being used. To achieve this, this Cookies Policy template covers:
Scope of this Policy
The start of the Cookie Policy sets out an overview of the Policy, why it is important, and to whom it applies. It also explains that cookies are placed on a user’s device when they visit the website and explains why this is done and how users can opt-out.
Where applicable, this section also sets out that the Cookie Policy should be read alongside the website owner’s Privacy policy.
What are cookies?
This section explains what cookies are and why they are used by the website.
Types of cookies
This section sets out the types of cookies that the website uses along with the purposes of those types of cookies. As websites always use strictly necessary cookies and functionality cookies, these are always covered by this section.
How to control your cookies
This section details how users can enable or disable cookies and, where relevant, this section will provide a link to the website’s cookie preference centre.
Changes to this Policy
This section explains that the website owner reserves the right to change the Cookie Policy as and when deemed necessary. It sets out that any changes will be immediately made available on the website and clarifies that a user is deemed to have accepted the terms of the Policy when they first use the website after any alterations are made to the Policy.
Contact details
This section provides the details of the website owner and sets out how they can be contacted by website users.
Cookie Schedule
This Schedule provides a list of the different types of cookies the website uses. This includes the names of the different cookies and the specific purpose of each cookie.
If you want your Cookie Policy to include further or more detailed provisions, you can edit your document. However, if you do this, you may want a lawyer to review or change the Cookie Policy for you, to make sure it complies with all relevant laws and meets your specific needs. Ask a lawyer for assistance.
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Legal tips for making a Cookie Policy
Identify what cookies your website uses
Before making your Cookie Policy, you should conduct a cookie audit to identify the specific cookies that your website uses. Doing this will help you understand the types of cookies used, their purposes, and the data they collect.
Provide information on all cookies your website uses
It is crucial that your Cookie Policy be transparent, clear and accurate. It should accurately reflect the types of cookies used and clearly set out why these types of cookies are being used. Not only should your Policy specify the types of cookies, it should also identify the specific cookies used and their purposes. By doing this, you not only comply with your obligations under the law, but also build trust with your users.
For more information, see the FAQ ‘What information do I need to provide about website cookies?’.
Regularly review your Cookie Policy
To ensure that your Cookie Policy remains relevant and up-to-date, you should regularly review it. You need to pay special attention to any changes to the law that may affect cookies or data protection obligations. Further, you need to make sure your Policy accurately reflects how your website operates. It is a good idea to review your Cookie Policy on a rolling basis (eg once per year). By doing this, you ensure that it remains accurate and effective.
Understand when to seek advice from a lawyer
Ask a lawyer for advice if:
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your website collects sensitive personal data
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this document doesn’t meet your specific needs
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Cookie Policy FAQs
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What should a Cookie Policy include?
This Cookie Policy template covers:
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your website’s details
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what cookies your website uses and for what purposes
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how to enable and disable cookies
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how you will ask users to consent to cookies
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your contact details
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Do you need a Cookie Policy on a website?
Under the PECR and the UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), you must provide certain information regarding cookies to your website users.
The basic rule is that you must tell people which cookies your website uses, explain what the cookies are doing and why, and get their consent to store cookies on their device. Having a Cookie Policy in place helps communicate these things to website users.
For more information, read Data privacy and cookies.
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What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on a user’s device (eg computer or smartphone), which are commonly used to collect personal data. Most website operators place cookies on the browser or hard drive of their users’ computers. Cookies can gather information about a users’ use of a website or can enable the website to recognise the user as an existing customer when they return to at a later date. A cookie file is neither a virus nor spyware.
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What are the different types of cookies?
This Cookies Policy allows you to specify the types of cookies you use and their purpose. The cookies covered in this Policy are:
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strictly necessary cookies - these cookies are needed by your website in order to perform its basic functions and will generally be first-party session cookies
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analytical cookies - these cookies analyse how users use a website (eg which pages they visited and which links they clicked on)
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functionality cookies - these cookies help enhance a website’s performance and functionality by, for example, allowing websites to remember a user’s site preferences, region and language
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targeting cookies - these cookies are specifically designed to gather information from a user to display advertisements to them based on relevant topics that interest them
Read Types of cookies for more information.
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How do I find out what cookies my website uses?
You can identify which cookies your website uses from any of the browsers that you are viewing the website on. You can check for cookies and find out their names by:
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manually checking for cookies on the website from the developer console (how to do this will depend on the specific browser you are using), or
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using a website cookie checker tool
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What information do I need to provide about website cookies?
The PECR does not set out exactly what information you must provide to website users. However, the PECR sets out that ‘clear and comprehensive’ information must be provided about cookies’ purposes. You must explain the way the cookies work and what your website uses them for and the explanation must be clear and easily available. In other words, users must be able to understand the potential consequences of allowing your website’s cookies. You must also make sure that the language and level of detail are appropriate for your intended audience.
For more information, read the Information Commissioner’s Office’s (ICO’s) guidance on cookies.
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Do users need to consent to cookies?
Under the PECR, websites cannot use 'non-essential' cookies unless the consent of the user is expressly given. In other words, users must first opt-in before such cookies can be deployed.
Non-essential cookies are those which are used for analytical purposes or to assist with advertising. Even cookies that customise a website (eg by providing a greeting message) are deemed to be non-essential.
Essential cookies are generally those which enable an online checkout process to work properly or which are required for technical or security purposes. For example, strictly necessary cookies are essential cookies. Consent does not typically need to be given for essential cookies, however, you should clearly explain to website users what these cookies do and why they are necessary.
For more information, read Data privacy and cookies and the ICO’s guidance on consenting to cookies.
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How can users consent to cookies?
To be valid, consent must be freely given, specific and informed. It must involve some form of unambiguous positive action. For example, ticking a box or clicking a link. The user must also fully understand that they are giving you consent. Clear positive action must be more than the user continuing to use your website.
Further, to ensure that consent to cookies is freely given, you should provide users with the means to easily enable and disable non-essential cookies (eg through a preference centre).
For functionality cookies to be placed on a user’s computer, implied consent will generally suffice, as long as your website clearly sets out what constitutes consent (ie continuing to use the website). However, if the functionality cookies enable your website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation, express user consent (ie through ticking a box) will be required.
For more information, read Data privacy and cookies.
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What is a privacy policy?
A privacy policy sets out the purposes of data collection on your website, the types of information collected, and the scope and limitations of data processing on the website. The collection and use of personal data by online businesses in the UK must comply with the UK’s data protection laws including the GDPR. Having a privacy policy in place allows website operators to comply with their obligations under the law.
How your website handles cookies can be set out in a privacy policy (such as the consolidated Privacy policy available on Rocket Lawyer) or you can have separate privacy and cookies policies.
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Where should the Cookie Policy be displayed?
You should add a link to the Cookies Policy on every page of your website that collects personal information. Ideally, you should make the Policy available to the users of your website by placing a link in the footer section of every page that users can access.
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