Last updated: 16 September 2026
Stoke-on-Trent Duck respects your privacy and aims to handle personal information fairly, securely and transparently. This notice explains what information we collect through stokeontrentduck.co.uk, why we use it and the choices you have.
Who we are
Stoke-on-Trent Duck is an independent local news, events and community website covering Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding area. For data protection enquiries, contact us at hello@stokeontrentduck.co.uk or use our contact form.
Information we collect
We may collect information that you provide when you contact us or submit material, including:
- your name, email address and optional telephone number;
- the subject and content of your enquiry;
- event, business, location or story information;
- photographs, documents and other files you choose to upload;
- image credits, permissions and related correspondence; and
- technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device information and website usage data collected through essential security, hosting or cookie technologies.
Please do not send sensitive personal information unless it is genuinely necessary. If a submission concerns another person, you should ensure you have a lawful reason to share their information and permission to share photographs where required.
How we use your information
We may use personal information to:
- respond to enquiries, news tips, event submissions and correction requests;
- assess, verify, edit and publish suitable local content;
- manage advertising enquiries and local business features;
- protect the website, prevent abuse and maintain reliable records;
- understand and improve how the website is used; and
- meet legal, regulatory or safeguarding obligations.
Our lawful bases
Depending on the circumstances, we rely on one or more lawful bases under UK data protection law: your consent; our legitimate interests in operating an independent local news and community website; taking steps at your request before entering into a contract or performing a contract; and compliance with a legal obligation. Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time, although this will not affect earlier lawful processing.
Journalistic material may also be handled under protections and exemptions available for journalism, freedom of expression and the public interest where applicable.
Forms and service providers
Our contact and submission form is provided by Cognito Forms. Information entered into the form, including uploaded files, is processed through that service so we can receive and manage your submission. We may also use reputable providers for website hosting, security, email, analytics, social-media publishing and other operational services. These providers may process information on our behalf under their own security and privacy arrangements.
Cookies, analytics and advertising
The website may use cookies or similar technologies needed for security and basic operation. With your permission, we may also use non-essential cookies for audience measurement, embedded content and advertising.
If Google Analytics or Google AdSense advertising is enabled, Google and its partners may use cookies, device information and online identifiers to measure usage, deliver or personalise advertising, prevent fraud and report performance. Non-essential analytics or advertising cookies should not be placed until you have made a consent choice. You can accept or reject non-essential cookies through the website’s cookie controls when available, and you can change your browser settings to remove or block cookies.
For more information about how Google uses information from sites and apps that use its services, visit Google’s partner sites privacy information.
Sharing information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share it only where reasonably necessary with service providers working on our behalf, professional advisers, regulators or law-enforcement bodies, or where disclosure is required by law. Information intended for publication—such as an event listing, business detail, credited photograph or quoted comment—may be visible publicly once published. We will not normally publish your private contact details unless you have asked us to do so or they are already intended as public contact information.
International processing
Some providers may store or process information outside the United Kingdom. Where this happens, we expect appropriate safeguards to be used in accordance with applicable data protection law.
How long we keep information
We retain ordinary enquiries and unpublished submissions only for as long as reasonably needed to respond, manage follow-up and maintain appropriate records, normally no longer than 24 months unless there is a continuing editorial, contractual or legal reason to keep them. Published material and its supporting editorial records may be retained for longer as part of the website’s news archive, subject to applicable law.
Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information. However, no online service or email system can be guaranteed completely secure, so please consider this before sending confidential material.
Your rights
Depending on the circumstances, you may have rights to access, correct or erase your personal information; restrict or object to its use; receive a portable copy; or withdraw consent. Some rights are not absolute, and exemptions may apply, including in relation to journalism and freedom of expression.
To exercise a right or raise a concern, email hello@stokeontrentduck.co.uk. We may need to verify your identity. You can also complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk.
Links and embedded content
Articles may contain links to, or content embedded from, third-party websites and social networks. Those services may collect information independently and are governed by their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of external websites.
Changes to this notice
We may update this notice when our services, providers or legal requirements change. The latest version will appear on this page with its revision date.