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PM Rishi Sunak takes action to stop disruptive protests

LIBERTY: ‘This latest attack on our rights must be resisted.’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is ‘backing the police’ to clamp down on highly disruptive and dangerous protests, under plans announced today.

Through an amendment tabled to the Public Order Bill, the Government will broaden the legal definition of ‘serious disruption’, giving police greater flexibility and clarity over when to intervene to stop the disruptive minority who use tactics such as blocking roads and slow marching to inflict misery on the public.

While the Government has already given police additional powers to prevent protestors using guerrilla tactics, police chiefs have told the Prime Minister that there is some uncertainty over what reaches the threshold of ‘serious disruption’.

The changes introduced today will give police officers absolute clarity over when they should step in. In practice, this will mean:

police will not need to wait for disruption to take place and can shut protests down before chaos erupts
police will not need to treat a series of protests by the same group as standalone incidents but will be able to consider their total impact
police will be able to consider long-running campaigns designed to cause repeat disruption over a period of days or weeks

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “The right to protest is a fundamental principle of our democracy, but this is not absolute. A balance must be struck between the rights of individuals and the rights of the hard-working majority to go about their day-to-day business.

“We cannot have protests conducted by a small minority disrupting the lives of the ordinary public. It’s not acceptable and we’re going to bring it to an end.

“The police asked us for more clarity to crack down on these guerrilla tactics, and we have listened.”

Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir Mark Rowley said: “The Met has a long history of policing protests, responding quickly and effectively to incidents involving crime and where serious disruption is caused, often in challenging situations. We have specialist officers trained to deal with a range of tactics, but this is complex, time-consuming work.

“It is clearly understood that everybody has the right to protest. Increasingly however police are getting drawn into complex legal arguments about the balance between that right to protest and the rights of others to go about their daily lives free from serious disruption. The lack of clarity in the legislation and the increasing complexity of the case law is making this more difficult and more contested.

“It is for Parliament to decide the law, and along with other police chiefs, I made the case for a clearer legal framework in relation to protest, obstruction and public nuisance laws. We have not sought any new powers to curtail or constrain protest, but have asked for legal clarity about where the balance of rights should be struck.

“I welcome the government’s proposal to introduce a legal definition of “serious disruption” and “reasonable excuse”. In practical terms, Parliament providing such clarity will create a clearer line for the police to enforce when protests impact upon others who simply wish to go about their lawful business.”

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Public Order and Public Safety, Chief Constable BJ Harrington, said: ““We welcome the constructive conversations with government over more clearly defining serious disruption. This will support officers in confidently and quickly taking action and making arrests where appropriate.

“Policing is not anti-protest, but there is a difference between protest and criminal activism, and we are committed to responding quickly and effectively to activists who deliberately disrupt people’s lives through dangerous, reckless, and criminal acts.

“Police have a responsibility to appropriately balance the rights of the public who are going about their daily business lawfully and the rights of those protesting.”

The College of Policing have confirmed today that they will produce guidance outlining the additional powers given to officers over the last year.

National Highways is also reviewing its guidance, taking learnings from previous protests to ensure that roads are reopened as quickly as it is safe to do so.

Today’s announcement is the latest step in the UK Government’s continued commitment to tackle the highly disruptive protests that the British public have been increasingly subjected to over the last few years’.

Through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, the Government introduced a statutory offence of public nuisance and created powers for the police to place conditions on unjustifiably noisy protests and increased the sentences for obstructing the highway.

Measures already announced in the Public Order Bill include creating a new criminal offence for interfering with key national infrastructure and for ‘locking-on’.

The Prime Minister also sat down with the Home Secretary and police chiefs in December to give a clear message that the Government expects protesters who disrupt the lives of others to be swiftly removed and arrested.

LIBERTY: PROPOSED NEW POLICE POWERS TO ARREST PROTESTERS BEFORE DISRUPTION BEGINS MUST BE RESISTED

Responding to news that the Government have introduced an amendment to the Public Order Bill that will give police new powers to arrest protesters on the chance that they intend to cause serious disruption, Director of Liberty Martha Spurrier said: “Protest is a fundamental right, not a gift from the State. But our right to protest continues to be attacked by a Government determined to silence people and hide from accountability.

“These new proposals should be seen for what they are: a desperate attempt to shut down any route for ordinary people to make their voices heard. Allowing the police to shut down protests before any disruption has taken place simply on the off-chance that it might sets a dangerous precedent, not to mention making the job of officers policing protests much more complex.

“From championing refugee rights to raising the alarm on the cost-of-living crisis, striking for workers’ rights, and fighting for racial and climate justice, protest today remains a crucial way for people to hold the Government to account. This latest attack on our rights must be resisted.”

Kay’s Bar scoops CAMRA beer quality award

Kay’s Bar in Edinburgh’s New Town has a reputation for selling top quality real ale and this has resulted in Kay’s being awarded the local CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Branch’s 2022 Real Ale Quality Award.

CAMRA’s members provided beer quality scores during 2022 when visiting real ale pubs in the Branch area (there are over 300) and Kay’s came out top for its average score – not only in Edinburgh but throughout the Lothians and Borders.

The presentation will be made by the CAMRA Branch Chair, Pat Hanson, to Simon Fisher, manager at Kay’s, at 8pm on Thursday (19^th January 2023) at the pub.

On hearing the news of the award Kay’s landlord Fraser Gillespie said: “We are delighted with this recognition by CAMRA of our commitment to serving a range of quality real ales”

Runners up in Edinburgh were the Mitre (Royal Mile) and the Dreadnought (Leith).

Muirhouse Millennium Centre SoS

PUBLIC MEETING – THURSDAY 26 JANUARY at 6pm

Telford trolley dump!

LOCAL MSP & COUNCILLOR TAKE SHOPS TO TASK OVER TROLLEY DUMPING

Edinburgh Central MSP, Angus Robertson, and Inverleith ward councillor, Vicky Nicolson, have demanded Craigleith shops take action to prevent trolley dumping in local green spaces.

Trolleys from a range of shops at Craigleith Retail Park are being lifted and dumped around the local area, chiefly Telford Park and its adjoining cycle paths.

The phenomenon of trolley dumping has increased in line with the retail park’s expansion. Local resident, Audrey Rollason, is so frustrated, she has taken to gathering trolleys in her own garden and liaising with her SNP councillor to have them picked up.

Another resident Andrea, and her 9-year-old son Dylan, have also spent significant amounts of time shifting trolleys from parks and gardens. Andrea branded the trolley dumping practice ‘a disgrace’.

Now, local MSP Angus Robertson and Councillor Vicky Nicolson have stepped in to demand retailers do their bit to end trolley dumping.

Angus Robertson MSP commented: “It is totally unacceptable that Telford residents face the dumping of trolleys in local green spaces and in parks. Not only is it a disrespect to the local area, it is costing local residents and the Council time and money having to collect them.

“While it is not retailers’ fault that trollies are being lifted in the first place, it is time that they step up to help solve this issue. We know there are tried and tested ways of reducing trolly dumping.

“Other retail parks have developed various solutions, such as wheel-locking systems to stop initial removal or, in some cases, retailers actively collect the lifted trolleys from the local area. Councillor Nicolson and I have asked retailers to consider all options to help stop the trolley dumping.”

Councillor Vicky Nicolson said: “Trolly dumping is something I am acutely aware of in my ward. Indeed, on the regular community litter picks I arrange along with Drylaw Telford Community Council in the summer, we often find trolleys strewn about the place.

“It is deeply frustrating for residents, who should not have to waste their time solving this problem themselves. Local MSP Angus Robertson and I have written to the Craigleith retail park to ask them to take action to help prevent and tidy up dumped trolleys. We will continue to liaise with and represent the views of locals to tackle this issue.”

Resident Audrey Rollason said: “Trolley dumping has got worse and worse in the Telford area. I constantly find trolleys around the place, and often new ones appear in a period of hours. It is absolutely demoralising and makes our local area look run down and unwelcoming.

“I want the shops to do their bit to help – it shouldn’t be up to me and other local residents to gather their trolleys for them. I’m grateful to Councillor Nicolson and Angus Roberson MSP for helping us and I hope we can end trolley dumping once and for all.”

Samaritans: Dispel the myth of Blue Monday – let’s celebrate Brew Monday!

Samaritans Scotland will host an event at Glasgow Central Station today (Monday 16 January) in a bid to dispel the myth of ‘Blue Monday’.

The third Monday of each year is often referred to as the most depressing day of the year and falls on January 16 in 2023.

To debunk the idea of ‘Blue Monday’, Samaritans runs an annual Brew Monday campaign throughout the UK which emphasises the importance of talking and encourages people to reach out to family and friends and have chat over a cuppa.

This Brew Monday, Samaritans Scotland has teamed up with Scotland’s Railway to hold an event at Glasgow Central Station. Volunteers and staff will be on hand from 8am to 2pm offering tea, coffee and biscuits to commuters and passers-by.

AG Barr has kindly donated cans of Irn Bru for the event, meaning visitors can cheers to ‘Bru Monday’ too! There will also be a selection of sweet treats thanks to Lees of Scotland.

Danielle Rowley, Influencing Manager at Samaritans Scotland, said: “At Samaritans, we know there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’. We all have our good days and our bad days, these aren’t for the calendar to decide.

“Our dedicated listening volunteers all over Scotland are consistently busy 24/7, 365 days a year, picking up a call for help every 10 seconds.

“The simple act of having a chat with someone over a coffee can have a huge impact – it could even save a life.

“It’s time to stop the myth about this Monday being ‘blue’ and instead start a conversation over a brew – or Bru!”

Anyone can contact Samaritans for free any time from any phone on 116 123, even on a mobile without credit. Or you can email jo@samaritans.org.

Tony Delahoy: Things Remembered

NORMANDY LANDING

The Regiment left the east coast on the night of 4/5th June for the West India Docks in London.

On arrival I knew that my home was just a few miles away on the other side of the River Thames. I realised that by scrambling over the dock wall I might be able to return home to see Helen before embarking for France, so I climbed over the wall and landed in the garden of a small house.

The woman who was living there said: ‘Come through, and when you come back I’ll let you back in to the garden’.

I ran all the way through the pedestrian tunnel under the Thames and managed to reach home, only to find an empty house – my wife and her mother had gone to the cinema! Fortunately they returned just before I had to make the return journey, where I once again scrambled over the dock wall. Fortunately I had not been misssed – very lucky!

We embarked on 7th June aboard the SS Fort McPherson and sailed down the Thames Estuary to a salute of hooters and sirens.

On the way over to France there was a submarine alert during the evening but no attack took place. However during the night the ship was attacked by planes.

At first there were some near misses but these were followed by a tremendous shudder as the ship was hit by a large remotely guided bomb. The bomb had penetrated the ship but failed to explode. I like to think the resistance movement had sabotaged the bomb.

The wings of the missile-like bomb were sheared off, revealing masses of wiring cabes that appeared to be attached to it.

The ship stopped and destroyers stood nearby while the bomb was defused. I watched as this missile was hoisted up and lowered over board; it appeared to be a massive size of about 14 feet.

Our ship’s steering gear had been damaged by the impact and the ship delayed, but was soon able to continue on to France by going round in circles.

Standing off shore the ship was attacked again, with many more near misses. Eventually landing craft pulled alongside us and we scrambled down the nets into the landing craft and we were beached at Ver-sur-Mer.

To my amazement the pilot of the landing craft taking me ashore turned out to be a man called Jackie Legge, who had been one of my next door neighbours at home – what a fantastic coincidence!

More THINGS REMEMBERED next week

New report shows cost-of-living hike causing unprecedented stress – learn the secrets to relief

The lingering stress of the cost-of-living crisis weighs heavily on the shoulders of many, and with temperatures dropping, food prices skyrocketing, and the New Year in full swing, it is bound to have an added impact on the stresses of everyday life. Therefore, people up and down the country are looking for tips and tricks to ease and eliminate as much stress as possible.

CBD experts Simply CBD have revealed some tips that will help encourage stress relaxation and a stress-free routine that you can implement into your weekly routine.

New analysis reveals that searches in the UK for ‘reduce stress’ increased by 216% over the past month, proving just how desperate we are to find solutions for feelings of overwhelming stress.

In fact, searches for ‘is stress normal’ has seen a huge 635% increase over the past month in the UK, showing just how concerned people are about stress levels and how they can impact their health.

Self-care

Being mindful of your own needs is essential and focusing on self-care will help reduce stress and anxiety tremendously. Some forms of self-care include maintaining a balanced diet and sustaining a healthy sleep schedule but indulging in pampering is often overlooked.

Pampering doesn’t have to break the bank. Forget spa days or trips away; you can easily indulge in pampering at home:

Take a hot bath or shower.
Pop on a face mask and read your favourite book – time away from blue light from your phone also helps relax the mind.
Light some candles and listen to a meditation podcast.
Treat yourself to your favourite home-cooked meal (or take away if you prefer!).

Exercise

Although the thought of exercise can sometimes be exhausting, with long workdays feeling tiring enough, finding the time to get a good workout in can often be the release from a lot of pent-up stress.

Sometimes getting past the mental barrier of doing physical activity is the only thing holding you back from releasing tension and endorphins, aka the body’s natural painkillers.

The exercise doesn’t necessarily need to be intense, and there are many options when it comes to fitting in an hour of increased heart rate:

Go on a walk – Whether with friends, family or just by yourself, getting out for some fresh air and moving your body will work wonders.
Take part in a local exercise class – there are many different options, such as low intensity Yoga and Pilates, which are great options if you don’t want to do an intense workout.
Take part in an online exercise class! – if physically leaving the house to exercise fills you with dread, you will be pleased to know there are thousands of online classes and pre-recorded free videos of workouts that you can do in the comfort of your own home.

Listen to music

Listening to music gives the brain a total workout, and we all know how vital brain health is. By listening to music, you can:

Reduce blood pressure.
Improve memory.
Reduce anxiety.
Improve sleep quality.

Not only can it reduce stress, but it can elevate moods and clear the way for emotional expression; this is why it is great that there are so many genres of music to choose from; just pick whatever gets you out of a funk and makes you feel good!

Experiment with hobbies

By experimenting with hobbies that you might have put on the back burner, you are allowing your body to remind itself of something you enjoy and take pride in. Hobbies are a great distraction and can be the perfect way to relax and forget about the stresses of everyday life.

If you’re struggling to think of a hobby, it’s never too late to find one! By making a list of all the hobbies you would love to try, you are already one step closer to expanding your knowledge, widening your range of skills, keeping your brain working and mind off all things stressful.

Turn the phone off and stay off social media

In a world dominated by technology, we have everything at the push of a button, making it hard to imagine life without it, but keeping so up-to-date and caught up on social media can sometimes be exhausting and lead to unhealthy comparisons.

By turning off your phone or limiting the time spent on social media, you can shut off the constant updates and remain solely focused on other things that might bring you joy. Instead of getting distracted by technology, you could be reading your favourite books, spending time with family and friends, giving yourself a well-deserved pamper or just taking a nap, whatever relieves stress from your day!

Duck & Waffle officially lands in Edinburgh on 1st February

Duck & Waffle will open the doors to its highly anticipated Edinburgh restaurant on 1st February, bringing a brand new, unique eating experience to the city for 2023.

The critically acclaimed restaurant, which is the brand’s first UK venture outside of London, is located within St James Quarter. The restaurant will merge dynamic interiors, unrivalled hospitality, a buzzy atmosphere, and mouth-watering signature fare to create an unforgettable ‘gastro diner’ experience that has become a hallmark of the brand, welcoming guests for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

“We are thrilled to welcome our first guests into Duck & Waffle Edinburgh” explains Duck & Waffle Brand Founder Shimon Bokovza, “From the stunning interior design to the creative dishes on our menu it’s an experience that promises elements of surprise and delight for those who dine with us – no matter the time of the day.”

At the helm of Duck & Waffle Edinburgh’s kitchen is Culinary Director Daniel Barbosa and Executive Chef Lucia Gregusova. The menu is built around its iconic, namesake dish – made with crispy duck leg confit, fried duck egg and a mustard maple syrup on a buttermilk waffle and supported by a playful take on comfort food – a curated selection of signatures and new, location-specific offerings.

Inspired by Scotland’s bountiful selection of products – the freshest produce, seafood, meats, and cheeses – Duck & Waffle Edinburgh’s menu sheds light on the integrity of the ingredients themselves. Vegetable-forward standouts include Pulled Aubergine with lyonnaise onions, goat’s curd and chervil, and Hispi Cabbage with miso brown butter, caperberries, and crispy shallots. From the raw offering: the vibrant Hand-Dived Scallop with apple, jalapeño, and truffled orange dressing; and the brand’s staple Angus Beef Tartare with pickled onion, mustard, Marmite-cured egg yolk, and crispy bread.

Building on a playful spirit of sharing the culinary experience, and an ‘ode to duck,’ are the Duck Sliders – prepared with crispy shallots, scamorza, harissa mayo, and the option to add seared foie gras for a bit of indulgence. And, the decadent Deep Fried Haggis Bar – a rich layering of ox cheek, haggis, and duck fat caramel, served with a side of Bovril.

Rounding out the ‘All Day’ menu are large plates like the famous Duck & Waffle – with two million sold and counting – the Whole Roasted Sea Bass with lilliput capers, potatoes, mussels, beurre blanc, and coriander; and grass-fed steaks sourced from Scottish-local John Gilmour Butchers, distinguished for the extraordinary flavour of their meat, and their sustainable farming efforts.

For morning enthusiasts the breakfast and brunch menus – are not to be missed, showcasing the brand’s iconic sweet and savoury offering including a Duck Benedict prepared with smoked duck breast, the Full Elvis with PBJ, caramelised banana, Chantilly cream, and all the trimmings – inspired by some of ‘The King’s’ favourite ingredients and served over a waffle, or the Duck Egg en Cocotte with wild mushrooms, Gruyère, truffle, and soldiers. New creations for Edinburgh incorporate comforting, international flavours, as seen in the Homemade Chickpea Dhal with grilled flatbread, poached eggs and coriander, and Shakshuka with harissa yoghurt and black chili flakes.

For a sweet finish, the beloved Torrejas – a take on French Toast made with maple caramel apples and served with cinnamon ice cream, and the craveworthy Sticky Toffee Waffle with butterscotch caramel sauce and clotted cream.

“Edinburgh is one of the most charming cities I’ve been to,” shares Culinary Director Daniel Barbosa, “I came across beautiful produce and that has influenced the way the menu was designed. All of our beef, cheese, and shellfish are from Scotland – the quality of the Scottish products is second to none. These preferred purveyors range from Campbell & Sons Quality Meat, Central Produce, and I.J. Mellis cheesemongers, to George Anderson & Sons, David Lowrie Fish Merchants, and Ochil Foods – to name a few.”

Known for its iconoclastic cocktails and signature walk-around cocktail bar, Duck & Waffle Edinburgh will deliver inventive libations and classics, reimagined. Highlights include the bottled Duck & Stormy with Bacardi Carta Negra rum, coconut, lime, and ginger juice, and the culinary-minded Bone Marrow Cosmopolitan crafted with bone marrow-infused Grey Goose. The whimsical Waffle on the Rocks with waffle-flavoured Portobello vodka, St Germain elderflower liquor, Drambuie, and lime cordial layers in nostalgia, while the Yolk’s on You with vanilla vodka, oat milk, green Chartreuse, agave, features bright floral notes and refreshing acidity at the punchline.

Reservations:

Duck & Waffle Edinburgh reservations are now open, and can be made via the website at https://duckandwaffle.com/reservations/ The restaurant accepts bookings up to two months in advance.

Hours of Operation

Sunday – Wednesday 8am -12am

Thursday – Saturday 8am – 1am

Address:

Duck & Waffle Edinburgh

St James Quarter

400-402 St James Crescent

Edinburgh, EH1 3AE

www.duckandwaffle.com

Peter Howson at 65: A retrospective

Portrait of Peter Howson at Flowers Gallery, Cork Street, London in 2021 in front of his painting Phlegethon (The Fiery Third River of Hell), 2021.

New major exhibition coming this Spring to City Art Centre.
Saturday 27 May to Sunday 1 October 2023

A major retrospective of one of the UK’s leading figurative painters, Peter Howson, opens at Edinburgh’s City Art Centre in May 2023.

The exhibition will bring together around 100 works spanning the artist’s career, many never seen before in Scotland.

Howson has established a formidable reputation in the art world. His heroic portrayals of the mighty and the lowly confront subjects of human conflict and destruction that offer a penetrating insight into the human condition.

His experiences of abuse—whether self-inflicted and substance-related, or the traumatic events of his childhood—have moulded his world view, and afforded him an affinity with individuals on the margins of society.

The City Art Centre’s Curatorial and Conservation Manager, David Patterson has been planning the exhibition since 2019, working closely with Howson and his London gallery.

Howson has previously shown at the City Art Centre, when his critically acclaimed solo exhibition devoted to Scotland’s patron saint Andrew was displayed in 2007.

David Patterson commented: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see works assembled from public and private collections.

“This retrospective will illustrate Peter’s consummate skill in a range of media and explore his religious work as well as his graphic responses to recent global events including the covid pandemic and war in Ukraine.

Councillor Val Walker, Convener of Culture and Communities said: “Peter Howson is one of the most respected artists of his generation and we are very proud that the City Art Centre will host this major study of his work.

“Visitors will be able to discover Howson’s instantly recognisable works with many on display in Scotland for the first time. Celebrating Howson’s 50-year career, we will showcase over 100 pieces across four floors.

“It will be the highlight exhibition of 2023.”

Emerging from Glasgow School of Art in the 1980s, Howson quickly proved his skill of capturing the maverick, the excessive, the non-conformist and his own personal understanding of the struggles of everyday life.

In 1992 he was commissioned by the Imperial War Museum to record the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. He was appointed official British war artist for Bosnia in 1993 and in 1996 was awarded Doctor of Letters at The University of Strathclyde. His work is included in numerous national and international museum collections.

When the Apple Ripens: Peter Howson at 65: A Retrospective opens at the City Art Centre in Edinburgh on 27th May 2023 and runs until 1st October 2023.

A new book will accompany the exhibition, published by Sansom and Co.

Tickets can be purchased in advance on the Museums & Galleries Edinburgh website.

Expert reveals the top social media scams of 2023 – and how to avoid them

Cybercriminals are always producing new ways to steal from unsuspecting social media users, often trying to obtain account login credentials, personal information, or bank and credit card information.

Cybersecurity expert Liz Wegerer from VPNOverview.com reveals the most common Facebook and Instagram scams of 2023 and how to avoid them:

The most common Facebook scams of 2023

Facebook is the most popular social media app worldwide, and scammers flock to it to fleece unsuspecting users. With so many active users, fraudsters have a vast pool of potential victims to target. Here are some of the most common ways they try:

Phishing scams: Emails or direct messages with sketchy links that download malware or capture login credentials on spoofed websites.
Romance: Friend requests and direct messages that attempt to create a romantic interest with the goal to steal money from the victim.
Prizes or job offers: Claims designed to obtain personal information or money from the victim, including “You’ve won!” scams.
Quizzes and games: Designed to elicit personal information in the answers through the kind of information people may use to create passwords or answer security questions for their online accounts.
Charity pleas: Creating fake charities to get donations during times of disaster, using sites like GoFundMe.

The most common Instagram scams of 2023

More than one billion people use Instagram each month, making it the world’s fourth most popular social media platform. Cybercriminals know this and have several tricks to infiltrate your account and steal your personal information. These include:

Fake investment offers: Scammers promise you a great return for just a small investment.
Bogus brand collaboration requests: Fraudsters offer to pay you for promoting their products then steal your financial data when you provide them.
Selling followers and likes: Ask you to pay a nominal fee in exchange for like or follow packages, but your financial data gets stolen when you send financial details.
Giveaways: Entice you to try and win a prize, but then you will be asked to provide personal information or payment to claim your winnings.
Imposter brand accounts: Sell counterfeit goods (or never deliver the promised goods at all) under the guise of a popular brand to drain your bank account.

How to avoid scams on social media

1. Lock down your privacy settings

Your Instagram is set to “public” by default, allowing anyone to see your posts. To protect your privacy, set your account to “private” so only followers you approve can see your posts, make comments, and send you direct messages. On Facebook, while you can never hide your profile pictures or cover photos, you can hide almost everything else from those outside your friends list through your settings.

2. Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication

One of the easiest ways to prevent unwanted logins on your accounts is to use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication. With this in place, anytime someone tries logging in from an unrecognised location or device, they will also have to enter a one-time code in addition to your username and password sent to your phone.

3. Keep track of third-party apps

Over time, you have likely connected several third-party applications to your Instagram account. You should regularly review these applications to ensure no suspicious connections have been made and delete any you do not recognise or no longer use.

4. Only buy from verified profiles and brand accounts

Before you buy anything on social media, check to make sure the account you are dealing with is verified. All legitimate brands on Instagram and Facebook are verified with a blue circle checkmark next to their name.

5. Search regularly for accounts in your name

To avoid the damage of someone cloning your accounts and using these fake accounts maliciously, get into the habit of regularly searching Facebook and Instagram for your name. This only takes a minute and is an easy way to identify and report imposter accounts.

6. Decline friend requests from anyone you do not know

Get in the habit of declining friend requests from anyone you are not familiar with. The more friends you have that you do not know, the higher the risk you will be approached with a scam.

7. Never click on suspicious links sent to you or respond to unsolicited messages

Whether it is a phishing email or a private message from a friend, avoid clicking on unsolicited videos or links. If you think a friend sent you something, double-check with them before clicking. Especially when what they sent you involves compromising information about you or says something like, “OMG! Is this you?” or “Have you seen this yet?!”.