Cookie Policy

1. Overview

Websites can use small files, browser storage, scripts, tags and other technologies to store information on your device or access information already stored there.

Some of these technologies are required for a website to operate correctly or securely. Others may support features such as remembering preferences, understanding how a website is used or measuring marketing activity.

Hawk aims to use these technologies in a proportionate way and to give website visitors clear information and appropriate choices.

2. What are cookies and similar technologies?

A cookie is a small piece of information that a website may place on your browser or device. Cookies can contain identifiers, preferences or other information associated with your visit.

Cookies are not the only technology covered by these rules. Websites may also use technologies such as local storage, tracking pixels, scripts, tags, link decoration and other methods that store information on or access information from a device.

3. How the UK cookie rules work

The use of cookies and similar storage and access technologies is governed principally by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003, as amended. Where personal information is involved, UK data protection law may apply alongside those rules.

Depending on the purpose of a particular technology, we may need your consent before it is used. Certain limited purposes can fall within an exception and may therefore be used without prior consent where all applicable requirements are met.

Current UK rules contain specific exceptions for certain communications purposes, technologies strictly necessary for a service requested by the user, qualifying statistical purposes, qualifying appearance or functionality purposes, and emergency assistance.

4. Strictly necessary technologies

Some storage or access may be essential to provide a website feature or service that you have requested.

Depending on the website configuration, this could include technologies used for security, fraud prevention, technical fault detection, maintaining a session or remembering a choice necessary to provide a requested function.

Technologies will not be treated as strictly necessary merely because they are useful to Hawk or provide general commercial benefits. The purpose must meet the relevant legal requirements.

5. Preference and functionality technologies

Certain technologies may be used to remember choices or adapt the appearance or functionality of the website to your preferences.

Current UK rules include an appearance exception that can apply to qualifying uses of storage or access technologies. Where Hawk relies on that exception, the use must stay within its permitted purpose, and visitors must be given clear information and a simple, free way to object.

Technologies used to profile visitors, personalise advertising or alter content based on inferred interests are not treated as ordinary appearance preferences.

6. Analytics and statistical technologies

Hawk may use analytics to understand matters such as the number of visits to the website, pages viewed, general website journeys, device or browser types and website performance.

UK law now contains a specific statistical purposes exception that can apply to qualifying analytics used solely to generate statistical information about how a service or website is used with a view to improving it.

The exception is limited. It does not provide a general permission to track or profile individual visitors, connect their activity to advertising systems or use analytics information for unrelated purposes.

7. Marketing and advertising technologies

Technologies used for advertising, cross-site tracking, profiling, conversion attribution or similar marketing purposes are materially different from technologies required to operate the website.

Where Hawk uses technologies for purposes that require consent, they should remain inactive until the visitor has made a valid choice through the website’s consent mechanism.

Refusing optional marketing technologies should not prevent you from using the basic Hawk website.

8. Third-party services

Some website functionality may be provided using services operated by other organisations. Depending on the configuration, those services may store or access information on your device.

Examples can include website analytics, embedded content, maps, video platforms, security services or other integrations. The presence of a third-party service does not automatically mean that every technology it offers is enabled.

Hawk should review third-party technologies before use, understand their purposes and ensure they are configured consistently with the relevant consent or exception requirements.

9. Cookie and technology register

The table below is intended to identify the storage and access technologies currently used by this website, including their provider, purpose, category and duration.

This register should be reviewed whenever the website, plugins, integrations or third-party services change.

10. Managing your cookie choices

Where the website uses technologies that require consent, you should be given an opportunity to accept, reject or customise those choices before the relevant technologies are enabled.

It should be as straightforward to reject optional technologies as it is to accept them.

Where you have given consent, you can withdraw it later. Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before the withdrawal.

11. Browser and device controls

Most modern browsers allow you to view, remove or block cookies and other site data through their privacy or security settings.

Blocking all cookies or storage technologies can affect the operation of some websites and may prevent certain requested functionality from working correctly.

Browser settings are separate from the consent choices presented by the Hawk website. You should not assume that browser defaults alone represent consent to optional technologies.

12. How long technologies remain active

The duration of a cookie or similar technology depends on its purpose and configuration.

Session technologies usually expire at or around the end of a browsing session. Persistent technologies can remain for longer periods where this is justified by their purpose.

The duration of each technology actually used by the Hawk website should be shown in the cookie register above. Technologies should not be retained for longer than is appropriate for their stated purpose.

13. Changes to this Cookie Policy

Hawk may update this Cookie Policy where the website, consent mechanism, service providers, technologies or applicable legal requirements change.

The live website should be reviewed periodically to ensure that the cookie register and consent configuration remain consistent with the technologies actually in use.

Where a new non-exempt technology or a materially different purpose is introduced, any additional consent requirements should be addressed before that technology is enabled.

14. Privacy and contact

Some storage and access technologies may involve the processing of personal information. More information about how Hawk handles personal information and your data protection rights is available in our Privacy Policy.

This Cookie Policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions .