UK museum crack down on selfie sticks

One of London's most iconic museums, the National Gallery today, set off a trend to ban selfie sticks for safety reasons of the visitors and artworks, following the lead of museums around the world.
Other museums in the British capital are expected to join in the crackdown on the device used to take selfies, becoming increasingly popular with tourists.
A National Gallery spokesperson 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," the spokesperson said.

"Therefore they will use their discretion on a case-by-case basis in preventing photography which puts the safety of the collection at risk or obstructs other visitors," the spokesperson added.
"They have drawn disapproval from traditionalists but selfie sticks have proved immensely popular, with Amazon reporting that sales rose by 301 per cent in the three months September-November," he added.
The gallery at Trafalgar Square is the first major museum in London to ban the devices, but follows the footsteps of similar bans across the US and France
The British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery are also believed to be planning to follow suit in banning the extendable poles.