Security is always a fraught subject when it comes to the internet. However, we approach it using current best practice and listed below are a few of the things we do to ensure the evil forces out there don't get access to any information you provide.

1. First and foremost we keep to an absolute minimum any information we collect and only ever use it for the purpose for which it was collected - usually order fulfilment.

2. All tracsactions which contain sensitive information such as Address and Credit card information take place over a highly encrypted secure link (so it is not readable even while it is being sent).

3. Once data arrives on our site all sensitive information is kept highly encrypted for storage. So even if someone did manage to access our databases, there is nothing in them which could be read.

4. Our policy is not to store credit card information and except where cards are processed manually (for Telephone Orders) none of our staff ever see your card details. Details are captured from you over a high security link, passed straight through to the Payment Authorisation Service (Protx) and as soon as the transaction authorisation is received back, the card details are automatically deleted without anyone in our organisation (or anywhere else) ever seeing them.  Even manually processed card details are securely destroyed immediately after the transaction has been confirmed.  We use the same levels of encryption the banks use so your information is safe for the very short time we have it.

5. During the bank authorisation transaction, all communication takes place over high security links. We have gone to a great deal of trouble to ensure your information is safe at every stage of the process so you can have an enjoyable and trouble free shopping experience with us. All data encryption uses a minimum of 128 bit security keys. Read about: Credit Card Safety

WARNING - Probably the most vulnerable point in the whole process is your own computer and so we would always advise that you have a good quality anti-virus package installed on your machine, keep it up to date with the latest virus signatures and regularly scan your machine to screen for infections. This all sounds a bit technical for many users but it really is very easy to do and it gives you so much more protection. READ OUR ARTICLE ON SAFE SURFING.

NOTE: Anyone attempting to illegally gain access to any information we store, once traced, would of course be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and the penalties for such actions are now very severe.