GDPR Policy
Last updated: 08/03/2026
1. GDPR Compliance Statement
Defence Legal Services Ltd is committed to full compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
This policy outlines how we uphold the seven key principles of data protection in our operations.
2. The Seven GDPR Principles
2.1 Lawfulness, Fairness and Transparency
- We process data lawfully under defined legal bases (contract, legitimate interests, consent, legal obligations)
- We are transparent about what data we collect and why (see Privacy Policy)
- We treat all data subjects fairly without discrimination
2.2 Purpose Limitation
- Data collected for specific, explicit, and legitimate purposes
- We do not use data for unrelated purposes without your consent
- Purpose clearly stated at point of collection
2.3 Data Minimisation
- We collect only data that is adequate, relevant, and necessary
- We avoid collecting excessive or unnecessary information
- Regular review of data fields to ensure continued necessity
2.4 Accuracy
- We take reasonable steps to ensure data accuracy
- You can update your profile information at any time
- We correct inaccuracies promptly upon notification
- Periodic verification of representative credentials
2.5 Storage Limitation
- Data retained only as long as necessary for stated purposes
- Clear retention periods defined for different data categories
- Automated and manual deletion procedures in place
- Regular audits of retained data
2.6 Integrity and Confidentiality (Security)
- Technical measures: encryption, access controls, secure hosting
- Organizational measures: staff training, policies, audit trails
- Regular security assessments and penetration testing
- Incident response and breach notification procedures
2.7 Accountability
- We maintain comprehensive records of processing activities
- Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) for high-risk processing
- Regular compliance reviews and audits
- Clear documentation of policies and procedures
- Staff training and awareness programs
3. Lawful Bases for Processing
We rely on the following lawful bases:
3.1 Contract (Article 6(1)(b))
- Creating and managing your account
- Providing directory listing services
- Processing featured profile subscriptions
- Delivering services you've requested
3.2 Legitimate Interests (Article 6(1)(f))
- Operating a safe and effective professional directory
- Preventing fraud and ensuring platform security
- Analyzing usage to improve services
- Direct marketing to existing customers (with opt-out option)
We conduct Legitimate Interest Assessments (LIAs) to ensure our interests do not override your rights and freedoms.
3.3 Legal Obligations (Article 6(1)(c))
- Complying with law enforcement requests
- Tax and accounting record retention
- Responding to regulatory enquiries
3.4 Consent (Article 6(1)(a))
- Optional marketing communications
- Non-essential analytics cookies
You may withdraw consent at any time.
4. Data Subject Rights
See our Privacy Policy for full details on exercising your rights, including:
- •Access, rectification, erasure
- •Restriction of processing, data portability
- •Object to processing, withdraw consent
- •Not to be subject to automated decision-making
5. Data Protection Officer
As a small to medium organization, we are not required to appoint a formal DPO under UK GDPR. Data protection enquiries are handled by our management team.
Contact: robertcashman@defencelegalservices.co.uk (subject: “Data Protection Enquiry”)
6. Security Measures
See our Data Protection Policy for comprehensive details on our technical and organizational security controls.
7. Privacy by Design and Default
- ✓We embed data protection into our systems and processes from the outset
- ✓Default settings are privacy-protective (e.g., sensitive fields marked private, minimal data collection)
- ✓We conduct DPIAs for new features that may present privacy risks
For detailed information on specific aspects of data protection, please see our Privacy Policy, Data Protection Policy, and Cookies Policy.
Have a question about GDPR or data protection? Get in touch and we'll respond within 7 working days.