Cookies are used throughout the web. They are small files of letters and numbers downloaded on to a device when the user accesses certain websites.
From 26 May 2012 a new EU Directive will come into force which affects the way cookies are used.
This page explains what the Directive is, why it has to be implemented, and what we’ll be doing to ensure there’s minimum disruption to our website’s users and visitors.
What is the Cookies Directive?
The ‘Cookies Directive’ is part of the EU e-Privacy Directive, aimed at improving privacy for internet users. On 26 May 2011 the European Commission made the 'Cookies Directive' law. It applies to all European countries and stipulates that the use of cookies on European businesses' websites must be disclosed and explicit consent for their use obtained from the users. The Information Commissioner's Office has given UK businesses 12 months in which to achieve compliance.
All UK business websites will be required to make this disclosure from 26 May 2012. Fines of up to £500,000 could apply where businesses aren't following the law.
What are Cookies?
Cookies are small files of letters and numbers downloaded on to a device when the user accesses certain websites. Cookies allow a website to recognise a user’s machine. Cookies are then sent back to the originating website on each subsequent visit.
Most cookies are used to help website owners improve their website, but some cookies can be intrusive, for example when they are used to track a user’s activity and preferences across many websites and therefore target relevant marketing or advertising to them.
There are 2 types of cookie:
- Session cookies, which allow websites to link the actions of a user during a browser session and can remember what a user has put in their shopping basket as they browse around the site
- Persistent cookies, which are stored on a users’ device in between browser sessions and allow the preferences or actions of the user across a site to be remembered. Persistent cookies may be used for a variety of purposes including remembering users’ preferences and choices when using a site or to target advertising.
Issues – accepting or not accepting cookies
Not accepting certain cookies may mean that a website will not work for you. For example when you are buying items on an online store.
It may be difficult to recognise types of cookie and how they will be used – for example, some users of anti virus software will have seen messages about tracking cookies being blocked or removed, and may believe all cookies are ‘bad’. This is misleading.
What types of cookies do we use at Wakefield Council and what do you use them for?
We use cookies to count usage of our site and to look at how people travel through the site (with Google Analytics), which helps us to improve our service. Please rest assured – these types of cookies are NOT intrusive and don’t collect any personal information.
Any input details, such as postcodes, for use in the “Where I live’ section are only used for that purpose.
Cookies are deleted when visitors leave the site.
All the cookies we use are benign so please don’t be concerned about accepting cookies from our site.
More information about cookies can be found here:
