diff --git a/app/controllers/services_controller.rb b/app/controllers/services_controller.rb
index 8f64b8c82a..069fed03af 100644
--- a/app/controllers/services_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/services_controller.rb
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def hidden_user_explanation
            locals: {
              name_to: info_request.user_name.html_safe,
              info_request: info_request, :reason => params[:reason],
-             info_request_url: 'http://' + AlaveteliConfiguration.domain + request_path(info_request),
+             info_request_url: request_link(request_path(info_request)),
              site_name: site_name.html_safe }
   end
 
@@ -115,4 +115,14 @@ def ask_the_eu_link
     %q(<a href="http://asktheeu.org">Ask The EU</a>)
   end
 
+  def request_link(request_path)
+    # https links in emails if forcing SSL
+    protocol = if AlaveteliConfiguration.force_ssl
+      "https://"
+    else
+      "http://"
+    end
+    "#{protocol}#{AlaveteliConfiguration.domain}#{request_path}"
+  end
+
 end
diff --git a/spec/controllers/services_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/services_controller_spec.rb
index 9a2558e347..41a640b951 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/services_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/services_controller_spec.rb
@@ -109,6 +109,26 @@
       expect(response.body).to match(/Yours,\n\nThe A&B Test team/)
     end
 
+    describe 'constructing the request link' do
+
+      it 'uses http if force_ssl is false' do
+        allow(AlaveteliConfiguration).
+          to receive(:force_ssl).and_return(false)
+        get :hidden_user_explanation, info_request_id: info_request.id
+        expect(response.body).
+          to match "http://test.host/request/#{info_request.url_title}"
+      end
+
+      it 'uses https if force_ssl is true' do
+        allow(AlaveteliConfiguration).
+          to receive(:force_ssl).and_return(true)
+        get :hidden_user_explanation, info_request_id: info_request.id
+        expect(response.body).
+          to match "https://test.host/request/#{info_request.url_title}"
+      end
+
+    end
+
   end
 
 end