Herts Interpreting & Translation Service (HITS) is committed to making sure that the personal data we hold about service providers, service users, interpreters and translators and others we work with is protected and processed in accordance with our legal duties and responsibilities under the Data Protection Act (1998) and EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

HITS is the data controller which means that we decide how your personal data is processed and for what purposes. We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO registration  ZA900247)

We understand that the people we work with trust us to keep their information safe and take this responsibility very seriously. Our privacy policy applies to the personal data provided to us by individuals themselves or by others on behalf of individuals and sets out how we may use the personal data when delivering the services offered by HITS.

Who We Are

Founded in 2001, Herts Interpreting & Translation Service (HITS) is one of the largest and most successful independent, non-commercial providers of language support services in the UK.

HITS provides a full range of language support services (telephone and face-to-face interpreting, translation, audio recordings, language assessments) for Health Trusts, Local Authorities, non-statutory sector organisations, commercial and private clients throughout Hertfordshire, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and beyond.

HITS provides a full service 24 hours a day, seven days a week for its entire customer base. It has its own highly trained and qualified interpreters available in more than 140 languages and dialects.

What is Personal Data?

Personal data is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable living person.

It may include:

• Basic Identifiers: Names, date of birth, postal addresses, and email addresses.
• Digital Footprints: IP addresses, browsing history, and GPS location data.
• Financial Details: Bank account numbers and credit card information.
• Official Records: Passports, National Insurance/Social Security numbers, and tax IDs.

Definition Of Special Category Data Under GDPR

Also referred to as Sensitive Personal Data. Personal data revealing the following about, or used to uniquely identify, any natural living person: racial or ethnic origin, political opinions religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data, a person’s age, data concerning health, data concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation.

HITS does not collect Special Category Data for the purposes of its work.

When do we collect personal data about you?

We collect personal data about you when you:

• Register as a HITS customer.
• As an authorised requestor on behalf of a registered customer, submit a request for an interpreting or translation service.
• As an end user, you provide implied consent to an authorised requestor of a registered customer to submit a request for an interpreting or translation service.
• Apply to join the HITS Interpreter Register.
• Apply to join a HITS interpreter Training Course.
• Undertake work on behalf of HITS for which payment is required.

Why do we collect personal data about you?

We collect your personal data, for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract.

We collect and use personal data

• For contractual and legal obligations to which the data subject is party
• To manage, deliver and develop our services.
• For responding to enquiries
• For the purposes of health and safety
• To fulfil our broader charitable objectives to promote, organise and facilitate co-operation and partnership working

What type of personal data is collected?

The personal data that we collect will be relevant and legitimate for the purposes detailed above in the delivery of interpreting and translation services.

How do we collect your personal data?

We collect your personal data directly from you as a data subject/contract holder when embarking on a contract with you

We collect personal data directly either from you as the data subject, a third party acting on your behalf or from publicly available sources.

How do we use your personal data?

We will only keep personal data limited to the necessary purpose, including information and support to our customers, staff, stakeholders and HMRC.

How Long Do We Keep Your Personal Data?

We will not keep personal data for any longer than necessary to fulfil the purpose for which the data was initially collected, including as required by law or regulation. We will take all necessary steps to keep your data relevant and up to date

We will keep personal data in line with legal obligations or for a maximum of two years and will take all necessary steps to keep your data relevant and up to date

Your Personal Data And Your Rights

We will uphold your rights to:

• Fair, lawful and transparent processing of personal data
• Specified, explicit and informed legitimate purpose
• Adequate, relevant and limited to necessary purpose
• All reasonable steps to keep data accurate and up-to-date
• Data not kept in identifying format beyond necessary use
• Take all appropriate organisation or technical measures
• Accountability

You have the right to:

• Request copies of any personal information that we hold.
• Ask us to correct any personal information you believe is inaccurate
• In certain circumstances, ask us to delete your personal information
• Ask us to restrict the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances
• Object to the processing of your personal data in some circumstances

If you wish to exercise any of these rights or have any queries about your personal data or privacy rights, please contact HITSmanager@communityactiondacorum.org.uk

This policy is published by:

Herts Interpreting and Translation Service (HITS)

48 High Street

Hemel Hempstead

Herts HP1 3AF

Telephone: 01442 867212

HITS is managed by Dacorum Council for Voluntary Service (registered charity 288080) and is registered at Companies House as DCVS Trading Ltd (company # 11127666)

This Privacy Policy was last reviewed and updated in July 2026.