Data Processing Notice
Last Updated January 2026
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This is the Data Processing Notice (also known as a Privacy Policy) of QED Limited.
It is issued in compliance with the Data Protection (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2017 “the Law”. We are committed to protecting and respecting your personal data and ensuring you are informed about how we use it. We acknowledge our obligations under the Law, and we undertake to the best of our ability, to protect your personal data in accordance with the Law.
​We acknowledge that all processing of personal data must be lawful, fair and undertaken with transparency.
This Notice sets out how and why we collect and use your personal data and our legal basis for doing so.
Who are we?
We are QED Limited also trading as QEDforensics. We are a registered Alderney company (no. 1831). We are also registered with The Office of the Data Protection Authority (registration number DPA 1664).
What do we do?
This is the website of QED Limited/QEDforensics. We offer forensic linguistic analysis services and academic training in aspects of forensic linguistic analysis.
What data do we collect?
We hold limited details relating to our clients and others interested in forensic linguistics. This not only enables us to contact our clients and others interested in forensic linguistics and to enable us to carry out our core activities but also to comply with statutory requirements and our legal obligations.
Where does this data come from?
The personal data we process is given to us directly by you, from someone else acting on your behalf (e.g. your company or legal representative) and/or from inquiries through our website, telephone calls, and emails. We do not collect any personal data from any other sources.
How do we use your personal data?
The personal data provided by you is primarily used to communicate with you and provide news and other information. It is also used to facilitate the administration of QEDforensics training events which you have indicated you have an interest in.
Our lawful basis for processing your personal data.
In order to be able to provide you with the services you require, we use our legal contractual basis for processing your personal data and/or rely on our legitimate core activities.
Consent
In instances where we are not relying on a contractual and/or legitimate core activitiy basis, we rely on consent to lawfully process your personal data. This can be obtained orally, by email or by an online process. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, however, it must be highlighted that by withdrawing your consent we may not be able to provide you with our core activity services.
Types of personal data we collect.
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Your contact details, such as: name, postal address, email address and contact number;
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A record of our communications with you;
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Information regarding the organisation of events and other activities you have indicated an interest in.
Special category data
Defined in the Law as – “Personal data revealing an individual’s racial or ethnic origin, political opinion, religious or philosophical belief, trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data, health data, data concerning an individual’s sex life or orientation, & criminal data.” The Law requires this data to be processed with additional protection.
We do not process any personal data in this category as defined by the Law.
Sharing of your personal data
We do not share your personal data with any third party.
Transfer of data
We do not transfer your personal data outside the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Direct marketing
We do not use any form of direct marketing.
Retention of data
All data is retained securely and only used for the purposes for which it was collected under the Law. Data is only retained for as long as is required to comply with our statutory obligations, in order for us to provide you with the services forming part a contract or with your consent. In any event, data is reviewed and weeded out accordingly after 7 years.
Your rights
The Law provides you with a number of rights, but specifically and of relevance, you have the right to:
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request confirmation of the personal data that we hold about you and what we are doing with your data;
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request correction of your personal data if incorrect, out of date or incomplete;
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request that we stop any consent-based processing of your personal data after you have withdrawn that consent.
Social media
QEDforensics does not use social media. This notice does not cover any third-party websites or social media sites used in conjunction with QEDforensics activities. We are not responsible for the actions or activities of third-party website/social media outlets. You are advised to read the data collection and privacy statements on the other websites and social media outlets you visit.
Cookies
QEDforensics does not collect or process cookies.
Contacting us
We are defined as a Controller according to the Law. If you have any questions or queries regarding how your personal data is being managed, please contact us by writing to:
QED Limited
Brickfields House
Alderney
Guernsey
GY9 3XD
or by emailing: info@qedforensics.com
Contacting the regulator
If you feel that your personal data has been handled incorrectly or you are unhappy with our response to any requests you have made to us regarding the use of your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the data protection regulator – The Office of the Data Protection Authority (ODPA). You can contact them for advice by writing to:
The Office of the Data Protection Authority
Block A
Lefebvre Court
Lefebvre Street
St. Peter Port
Guernsey
GY1 2JP
by telephoning (01481) 742074, by email to info@opda.gg or you can submit a complaint online at www.odpa.gg and complete the ‘make a complaint’ section.​​
Terms & Coditions
Supply of Service
Last Updated January 2026
Application
All work carried out by QEDforensics for the client is subject to these Terms and Conditions except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed in writing, in which case those terms shall prevail over these Terms and Conditions.
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Conflicts of Interest
QEDforensics will endeavour to identify conflicts of interest at the time of engagement by the client and will cease from acting in the engagement should a conflict of interest exist or found to exist at a later time.
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Initial Assessment
Prior to agreeing to undertake any analysis, QEDforensics will undertake without charge an initial assessment of any material and will provide an opinion on whether the material is:
1) suitable for analysis according to the requirements of the client.
Should the texts not be suitable for analysis, QEDforensics will advise the client and immediately destroy the texts unless instructed otherwise in writing by the client.
2) an estimate of the approximate time and cost.
Any estimates of fees is given in good faith but are not contractually binding unless otherwise specified, and fees may be higher or lower than the estimates given.
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Timetable
The client will, at its own expense, supply QEDforensics with all necessary material and other information relating to the service within sufficient time to enable QEDforensics to provide analysis in accordance with the agreement between the client and QEDforensics.
​The nature of linguistic analysis makes it difficult to estimate precisely how long texts may take to analyse. QEDforensics recognises that most cases are considered urgent and will endeavour to deal with them quickly and efficiently as possible. However, analyses may take longer than anticipated and QEDforensics will not compromise the quality of its analyses to meet agreed deadlines. As soon as it becomes evident to QEDforensics that an agreed deadline cannot be met, QEDforensics will inform the client accordingly and agree a new deadline.
QEDforensics will have no liability to the client for any loss, damage, expenses, or claims for compensation arising from any delay to the completion of agreed services by QEDforensics.
Opinions
Unless the client requests a court-readywritten Expert Report, QEDforensics reports are to be used on an Advise Only basis, and are not For Service.
QEDforensics may not express any opinions regarding the innocence or culpability of any individual or party. Any opinions provided by QEDforensics are subject to the limitations described below:
​Linguistic fingerprinting does not exist. Consequently, QEDforensics cannot attribute authorship to any individual. QEDforensics may only express an opinion as to the degree of consistency or non-consistency between the linguistic style found in the questioned texts and the sample texts with which they are compared using a 'Scale of Conclusions'. This Scale of Conclusions will be provided to the client before analysis.
​While QEDforensics may make inferences as to a linguistic persona based on linguistic features identified in texts, conclusions may be correct or incorrect, or correct to within a certain degree of accuracy. Inferences are provided for general guidance only.
Attempts by a client of their representatives to influence the conclusions of a QEDforensics analysis will result in the immediate termination of the work/contract by QEDforensics without any liability for any loss, damage, expenses, or claims for compensation by the client.
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Rights of Material and Reports
The property and any copyright or other intellectual property rights in any material provided by the client to QEDforensics will belong to the client. The client is responsible for ensuring that that they are legally entitled to obtain and use any material provided to QEDforensics.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing between the client and QEDforensics, any reports or information contained in communication issued by QEDforensics will belong to QEDforensics, subject only to the right of the client to use the information for the purposes of utilising QEDforensics’ services. The client agrees to indemnify QEDforensics against all claims, losses and damages suffered by QEDforensics as a result of any material provided to QEDforensics which the client did not lawfully obtain or possess.
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Fees
QEDforensics' charges are normally based on hourly rate. In suitable cases, QEDforensics will quote on a project basis. Subject to any special terms agreed, the client will pay the costs which are agreed between QEDforensics and the client for the provision of services, which in QEDforensics’ sole discretion, is required as a result of the client’s instructions or lack of instructions, or any other cause attributable to the client. QEDforensics will be entitled to invoice the client following the end of each month in which the services are provided, or at other times agreed with the client. The client will pay QEDforensics’ charges, other costs and expenses, and any additional sums payable Net 30 days EOM of the date of QEDforensics’ invoice.