Privacy Policy

Last Updated: March 2025

1. Introduction

We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your data is handled securely. This Privacy Policy outlines how we use and protect your information on crimestats.ie, including how we comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

2. What Data We Collect

We collect the following personal information when you create an account:

Email address
Username
Garda District (optional for forum relevance)
Hashed password (we never store your password in plain text)

3. How We Use Your Data

Your personal data is used solely for the following purposes:

Creating and managing your user account
Allowing participation in forum discussions
Sending email notifications for replies or thread activity (you may opt-out)
Maintaining the security and integrity of our platform

4. Lawful Basis for Processing

Our processing of your data is based on your consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR) and our legitimate interest in operating a secure community forum (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR).

5. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account remains active. If you delete your account, your personal data will be permanently removed from our systems within 30 days.

6. Your Rights Under GDPR

You have the right to:

Access your personal data
Correct inaccurate or outdated data
Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
Object to processing
Lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission at dataprotection.ie

You can exercise most of these rights via your My Account page.

7. Passwords & Security

We use industry-standard hashing algorithms to protect your password. Never share your password with anyone. For additional security, we recommend using a password manager.

8. Use of Google reCAPTCHA

We use Google reCAPTCHA v2 to prevent abuse and spam. Google may collect the following data:

Your IP address
Your browser and device information
Mouse movements and user interactions
Cookies previously set by Google
Time spent on the website

This data is processed directly by Google and not stored by crimestats.ie. For more, see Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

9. International Data Transfers

Data processed by third parties (e.g., Google reCAPTCHA, email services) may be transferred outside the European Economic Area (EEA). These transfers are safeguarded by Standard Contractual Clauses or equivalent legal protections.

10. Cookies

We use only essential cookies required for the operation and security of the site. We do not use cookies for advertising or analytics.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy occasionally. Any significant changes will be clearly posted on our site and reflected by the "Last Updated" date above.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at:

Email: info@crimestats.ie