Privacy Policy
Revision Date: 17 October 2025
About this policy
Your privacy is important to us. This policy explains how VISAV Ltd ("VISAV", "we", "our", or "us") collects, uses, and protects your information when you use the Neighbourhood Alert system ("the Service").
This policy is intended to help you understand:
- Who we are
- What information we collect about you
- How we store and secure information we collect
- How we use information we collect
- How we share information we collect
- How to access and control your information
- Other important privacy information
- Our policy towards children
- Use of cookies on the Neighbourhood Alert Platform
- Changes to our Privacy Policy
- Contact Us
Who we are
VISAV is the Data Controller for the Neighbourhood Alert system.
Each licensed Information Provider (police, Neighbourhood Watch, Fire and Rescue, local authority etc) acts as a Joint Data Controller for the data they manage and messages they send.
What information we collect about you
We collect information about you when you provide it to us, when you use the Service, and when other sources provide it to us, as further described below.
Information you provide to us
We collect information about you when you register on the Neighbourhood Alert system (Alert) or otherwise provide it directly to us.
Account and Profile Information
We collect information when you:
Register for the Service or update your account;
Choose which Information Providers you wish to hear from;
Respond to messages or surveys;
Contact our support team;
Use the Service (e.g. login, rate messages, change settings).
Examples of information we collect include:
Your name, address, and contact details (email, mobile number);
Your demographic information if you choose to provide it;
Your communication preferences and location area;
Information you provide in replies, comments, or surveys;
Technical information such as your browser type or login time (for security).
Information you provide through our support channels
The services also include our customer support, where you may choose to submit information regarding a problem you are experiencing with Alert. Whether you designate yourself as an Alert administrator, open a support ticket, speak to one of our representatives directly or otherwise engage with our support team, you will be asked to provide contact information, a summary of the problem you are experiencing, and any other documentation, screenshots or information that would be helpful in resolving the issue.
How we use information we collect
The Information Providers you select will send you messages which can be tailored to your requirements by the information you provide at registration or subsequently by logging into your account. They may also contact you directly using the contact information you provide so it is important that you keep this information up to date. VISAV and Information Providers may from time to time send you surveys which, based on your answers, may update your profile.
Origins predictive ethnicity tool: Your name may be processed using the Webber Phillips 'Origins' tool to predict your likely ethnic background. This helps ensure everyone in the local community has an equal opportunity to engage with messaging and surveys. The prediction is used solely to monitor and improve fair community representation and participation.
Survey data and research use: Survey responses you provide may be anonymised and combined with other data to help understand trends in community engagement. This anonymised information may be shared with trusted academic or research partners working under contract with us or with policing bodies. The purpose is to identify best practice, improve communication methods, and enhance how the system is used by police and other Information Providers based on member feedback. No personally identifiable information will ever be shared outside the system for these purposes.
Data analytics: Your data may be used by Information Providers to run analytics for performance and promotion purposes to help grow the Service.
How we share information we collect
Your information is shared with the Information Providers you select either during the registration process or subsequently.
Please be assured that we will never sell your information, or share it with any third party, save those Information Providers you have selected, any government agency entitled to this information by law, or with trusted academic or research partners as outlined above.
In the event that VISAV Limited is ever sold as a going concern, or enters into administration, the database of clients and prospects, shall be deemed an asset of the company, and the consents and permissions provided by the data subject shall be transferred to the new owners.
Social Media Widgets: The Alert system may include links that direct you to other websites or services whose privacy practices may differ from ours. Your use of and any information you submit to any of those third-party sites is governed by their privacy policies, not this one.
Third-Party Widgets: Some of our Services contain widgets and social media features. These widgets and features collect your IP address, which page you are visiting on the Services, and may set a cookie to enable the feature to function properly. Widgets and social media features are either hosted by a third party or hosted directly on our Services. Your interactions with these features are governed by the privacy policy of the company providing it.
How we store and protect your data
Information storage and security
The Neighbourhood Alert system servers are located in a Nottinghamshire data centre which is a highly resilient (ISO27001) accredited tier 3+ data with Police Assured Secure Facility (PASF) accreditation audited by Lincolnshire Police.
How long we keep information
How long we keep information we collect about you depends on the type of information, as described in further detail below. After such time, we will either delete or anonymise your information or, if this is not possible (for example, because the information has been stored in backup archives), then we will securely store your information and isolate it from any further use until deletion is possible.
Account information: We retain your account information for as long as your account is active and a reasonable period thereafter in case you decide to re-activate your Alert account. We also retain some of your information as necessary to comply with our legal obligations, to resolve disputes, to enforce our agreements, to support business operations, and to continue to develop and improve our Services. Where we retain information for Service improvement and development, we take steps to eliminate information that directly identifies you, and we only use the information to uncover collective insights about the use of our Services, not to specifically analyse personal characteristics about you.
Alert Messages: We retain these for a period of 6 months.
How to access and control your information
You have certain choices available to you when it comes to your information. Below is a summary of those choices, how to exercise them and any limitations.
Your Choices: You have the right to request a copy of your information, to object to our use of your information, to request the deletion or restriction of your information, or to request your information in a structured, electronic format. Your request and choices may be limited in certain cases: for example, if fulfilling your request would reveal information about another person, or if you ask to delete information which we or your administrator are permitted by law or have compelling legitimate interests to keep.
Access and update your information: You can update your information at any time by logging into your account or by emailing a request to our support team on support@neighbourhoodalert.co.uk. For sensitive changes, you may be asked to confirm a PIN sent via SMS or WhatsApp.
Deactivate your account: If you no longer wish to use Alert, you can unsubscribe via the "settings" link at the foot of any Alert email, or by contacting our support team to request your account’s removal.
Turn off cookie controls: Some browsers have incorporated "Do Not Track" (DNT) features that can send a signal to the websites you visit indicating you do not wish to be tracked. Our services do not currently respond to DNT signals.
Other important privacy information
Service administrators are able to:
Reset your account password;
Restrict, suspend or terminate your access to Alert;
Access information in and about your account;
Access or retain information stored as part of your account;
Restrict, suspend or terminate your account access;
Change the email address associated with your account;
Change your information, including profile information.
Our policy towards children
This Service is not designed for anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to delete such information. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact our support team at support@neighbourhoodalert.co.uk.
Use of cookies on the Neighbourhood Alert Platform
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit. They are widely used in order to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site. The table below explains the cookies we use and why.
| Cookie | Name | Type | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cookie Consent | cookieConsent | Essential | 1 year | This cookie is used to store your acceptance for use of non-essential cookies on this site. |
| Culture | Culture | Essential | 1 month | This cookie is used to store your language preference for our websites that are multilingual. |
| Antiforgery | Antiforgery | Essential | Session | This is a security cookie used to prevent Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Attacks. |
| Login | Cookies | Essential | Session | This is used to keep you logged in to the system. |
| SessionId | SessionId | Essential | Session | User, device, and session ID cookies along with timestamp cookies for timing out sessions after inactivity. |
We do not store user identifiable data or tracking information in any site cookies and we do not share or sell any data gathered from cookies or any other process.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any significant changes will be communicated by email or shown prominently on the login page.
Older versions will be archived for reference.
Continued use of the Service after an update means you accept the revised policy.
If you disagree with any changes to this privacy policy, you will need to stop using Alert and deactivate your account(s), as outlined above.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, requests, or concerns about this policy or your data, please contact:
Data Protection Officer
VISAV Ltd
Sherwood Business Centre
616a – 620a Mansfield Road
Sherwood
Nottingham
NG5 2GA
E-Mail: support@neighbourhoodalert.co.uk