Last Updated: 27 August 2026
1. Introduction
CourtSentences.co.uk ("we", "our", or "us") is operated by Search Ventures Ltd (Company No. 10588553), a company registered in England and Wales, which acts as the data controller for this website. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect personal information in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. It covers both visitors to the website and the individuals named in the sentencing information we publish.
2. Visitor Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide
We may collect the following information when you use our website:
- Search queries and preferences
- Feedback and correspondence
- Usage data and preferences
2.2 Automatically Collected Information
When you visit our website, we automatically collect:
- IP address and location data
- Browser type and version
- Operating system
- Pages visited and time spent
- Referral source
3. Sentencing Information We Publish
This website publishes information about criminal sentences handed down in Crown Courts and Magistrates' Courts in England and Wales. That information identifies real people and includes personal data, typically the defendant's name, the offence as reported, the sentence, the court, and the date. It is compiled from published media reports and other publicly available sources, and each entry attributes its original source.
3.1 Legal Basis
We process this information under Article 6(1)(f) UK GDPR (legitimate interests). The legitimate interests pursued are the principle of open justice, public access to information about the outcomes of public court proceedings, and journalism. Because this is criminal offence data within the meaning of Article 10 UK GDPR, we rely on the conditions in the Data Protection Act 2018 that permit processing for journalistic purposes and for the special purposes of informing the public about matters already lawfully in the public domain.
3.2 Safeguards We Apply
We apply the following safeguards to the sentencing information we publish:
- We do not publish the names of victims, witnesses, or their family members
- We do not publish material that appears to be subject to reporting restrictions or anonymity orders, including material protected under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992
- We do not list defendants who were under 18 when sentenced
- We monitor reported appeal outcomes so that records affected by a successful appeal can be corrected or removed
- Every listing carries a prominent disclaimer that individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty and that details may have changed since publication
3.3 Retention and Delisting
Listings are not permanent. We operate a delisting policy informed by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974: entries are removed from public view once the conviction is likely to be spent, and every entry is delisted after a maximum listing period in any event. Entries can also be removed earlier through the removal request process described below.
3.4 Your Rights if You Are Named on This Site
If you are named in a listing, you can ask us to correct or remove it. Grounds include inaccuracy, a successful appeal, reporting restrictions, a spent conviction, mistaken identity, being a victim or witness named in error, or another safety or welfare concern. Use the removal request option shown on each listing, or contact us using the details at the end of this policy. Every request is reviewed by a person and we aim to respond within 5 working days. Requests involving reporting restrictions, named victims or witnesses, or mistaken identity are treated as urgent.
Information you submit with a removal request (your name, email address, and explanation) is used solely to assess and respond to the request and is retained only as long as needed to evidence how the request was handled.
3.5 Prohibited Uses of This Data
The sentencing information on this site must not be used to make decisions about a person's employment, housing, credit, insurance, or any similar matter. It is not a substitute for an official Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
4. How We Use Visitor Information
We use visitor information for the following purposes:
- Providing and improving our court information service
- Analyzing website usage and trends
- Responding to your inquiries
- Ensuring website security and preventing fraud
- Complying with legal obligations
5. Legal Basis for Processing Visitor Data
We process visitor personal data under the following legal bases:
- Legitimate interests in operating and improving our service
- Consent where explicitly provided
- Legal obligations under UK law
- Performance of a contract when providing our services
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. When data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymized.
7. Your Rights
Under the UK GDPR, you have the following rights:
- Right to access your personal data
- Right to rectification of inaccurate data
- Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
- Right to restrict processing
- Right to data portability
- Right to object to processing
- Rights related to automated decision-making
8. Cookies and Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience and analyze website traffic. You can control cookies through your browser settings. For detailed information about the cookies we use, please see our Cookie Policy.
9. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:
- Encryption of data in transit and at rest
- Regular security assessments
- Access controls and authentication
- Staff training on data protection
10. Third-Party Services
We may use third-party service providers to help us operate our website and services. These providers have access to your personal data only to perform specific tasks on our behalf and are obligated to protect your information.
11. Ezoic Services
This website uses the services of Ezoic Inc. ("Ezoic"), including to manage third-party interest-based advertising. Ezoic may employ a variety of technologies on this website, including tools to serve content, display advertisements and enable advertising to visitors of this website, which may utilize first and third-party cookies.
A cookie is a small text file sent to your device by a web server that enables the website to remember information about your browsing activity. First-party cookies are created by the site you are visiting, while third-party cookies are set by domains other than the one you're visiting. Ezoic and our partners may place third-party cookies, tags, beacons, pixels, and similar technologies to monitor interactions with advertisements and optimize ad targeting. Please note that disabling cookies may limit access to certain content and features on the website, and rejecting cookies does not eliminate advertisements but will result in non-personalized advertising. You can find more information about cookies and how to manage them here.
The following information may be collected, used, and stored in a cookie when serving personalized ads:
- IP address
- Operating system type and version
- Device type
- Language preferences
- Web browser type
- Email (in a hashed or encrypted form)
Ezoic and its partners may use this data in combination with information that has been independently collected to deliver targeted advertisements across various platforms and websites. Ezoic's partners may also gather additional data, such as unique IDs, advertising IDs, geolocation data, usage data, device information, traffic data, referral sources, and interactions between users and websites or advertisements, to create audience segments for targeted advertising across different devices, browsers, and apps. You can find more information about interest-based advertising and how to manage them here.
You can view Ezoic's privacy policy here, or for additional information about Ezoic's advertising and other partners, you can view Ezoic's advertising partners here.
12. International Data Transfers
Your data is primarily stored and processed in the United Kingdom. If we transfer data outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with UK GDPR requirements.
13. Children's Privacy
Our service is not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.
14. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.