Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with our website, we may collect the following information:

Case submissions and tips

When you submit a case suggestion, investigative lead or other information, we may collect:

• Case names, locations and relevant details.
• Links to news articles, public records and supporting sources.
• Documents, images or other files you provide.
• Your name and email address, if supplied.
• Additional information included in your submission.

Corrections and enquiries

When you contact us, request a correction or raise a concern, we may collect your contact details, message, relevant video links and supporting information.

Career applications

When you apply to join our team, we may collect your name, email address, location, professional experience, portfolio, availability and other information relevant to your application.

Newsletter subscriptions

If you subscribe to our newsletter, we or our newsletter provider may collect your email address, subscription preferences and information about your interactions with emails.

Website usage

Our website and service providers may collect technical information, including IP addresses, browser types, device information, pages visited and security logs. Cookies and similar technologies may also be used.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

• Review and research criminal cases submitted to Solved Files.
• Investigate, verify and produce editorial content.
• Respond to enquiries, corrections and complaints.
• Review applications and communicate with potential team members.
• Deliver newsletters to subscribers.
• Maintain the security and functionality of our website.
• Improve our services and visitor experience.
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations.

Submitting information does not guarantee that a case will be investigated, featured or published.

3. Legal Basis for Processing

Where UK data protection law applies, we process personal information under an appropriate lawful basis.

Depending on the activity, this may include our legitimate interests in operating our website, managing enquiries, recruitment and editorial research; your consent for optional communications or certain technologies; taking steps towards entering a contract; or complying with legal obligations.

Certain personal data processed for journalistic purposes may qualify for specific legal exemptions where the applicable requirements are satisfied.

4. Case Submissions and Source Protection

We understand that information submitted about criminal investigations may be sensitive.

Access to submissions is limited according to operational needs, and we aim to handle identifying information responsibly.

We may use submitted information to research cases, verify facts and produce editorial content across the Solved Files network.

We do not automatically publish the identity or contact details of someone simply because they submitted a tip. However, relevant information about a case may be included in our reporting where lawful and editorially justified.

We cannot guarantee complete anonymity or confidentiality. Technical records may exist, and information may need to be disclosed where legally required.

Please avoid submitting unnecessary financial information, identity documents, private medical records or other highly sensitive personal information. Do not submit unlawful material.

5. How We Share Information

We do not sell personal information.

We may share information with:

• Authorised Solved Files staff and contractors who need it for their work.
• Hosting, website security, form-processing, email and other technology providers.
• Newsletter platforms where you choose to subscribe.
• Professional advisers and legal representatives where necessary.
• Law enforcement, courts or regulators where legally required.
• Relevant parties where necessary for lawful editorial verification or reporting.

Service providers we currently use

Some of these providers may process information outside the UK. Where that happens, we rely on appropriate safeguards provided by those providers.

External websites accessed through links on our website have their own data practices, which we do not control.

6. Cookies and Analytics

Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to maintain website functionality, protect against misuse, remember preferences and understand visitor activity.

Where consent is required, we will request it before using the relevant technologies. Where a lawful exception applies, we will provide the required information and choices.

You may also manage cookies through your browser settings.

At present, the public pages of this website do not set advertising or analytics cookies. The private team area uses a login session stored in the browser of authorised team members only.

7. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or loss.

These measures may include secure communications, access restrictions and appropriate safeguards provided by our technology partners.

However, no internet-based service or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

8. How Long We Keep Information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, subject to applicable legal requirements.

• Case submissions: Retained according to their continuing relevance to research, editorial records and potential legal matters.
• Job applications: Retained for the recruitment process and any appropriate, disclosed period for future opportunities.
• Enquiries and corrections: Retained while being handled and where necessary to maintain records of our responses.
• Newsletter subscriptions: Retained while your subscription remains active, subject to necessary suppression or compliance records.
• Technical records: Retained according to operational, security and legal requirements.

Information may be retained longer where necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal claims, fulfil legal obligations or preserve relevant editorial records.

9. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location and the applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Request access to your personal information.
• Request corrections to inaccurate information.
• Request deletion of personal information.
• Object to or restrict certain processing.
• Request data portability where applicable.
• Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.

These rights are subject to applicable legal conditions and exemptions, including those relating to journalism.

10. Third-Party Platforms

Our website may direct visitors to external platforms, including YouTube, Patreon, Spotify, and our newsletter provider.

When you access these services, their respective terms and privacy policies apply.

We encourage users to review those policies before providing personal information.

11. Children's Privacy

Our website is intended for a general audience interested in true-crime content and is not specifically directed at children.

Individuals under 18 should not submit sensitive case information or employment applications without appropriate permission.

If we discover that personal information has been collected from a child in circumstances that do not comply with applicable law, we will take appropriate action.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our website, operations or legal obligations.

Any updates will be published on this page with a revised effective date. Where appropriate, we will provide additional notice of significant changes.

13. Contact Us

To make a privacy request or ask a question about this policy, email us at solvedfiles@night.co or use our contact form.

We aim to respond to privacy requests within the time limits required by applicable law.