What item was banned in London's National Portrait Gallery in 2015?

The National Gallery in London has joined some of the world’s most renowned museums in banning visitors from using selfie sticks, while the British Museum said it was considering a similar move. In 2015 the gallery announced it would use an existing ban on photography with tripods to ban the popular devices, which enable users to hold their smartphone or camera at a distance and take pictures of themselves and their friends.

A spokeswoman for the National Gallery said staff had been told to help enforce the ban. She said: “Photography is allowed for personal, non-commercial purposes in the National Gallery – however, there are a few exceptions in order to protect paintings, copyright of loans, individual privacy and the overall visitor experience. Therefore the use of flash and tripods is not permitted. “Our gallery assistants and visitor-facing staff are fully briefed and instructed to ensure we are striking the correct balance between visitor experience and the security and safety of works on display.”