ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author examines the “much ado about nothing” approach of the UK police within the context of their obligations to protect freedom of expression, as expressed in the Core Principles of Policing, which are underpinned by Human Rights principles, to illuminate policing roles and attitudes and the rights and responsibilities. She begins by examining cases in which police intervention over protests led to the cancellation of a show or removal of artwork. Far from being “much ado about nothing,” the protest at The Vaults concerned urgent and timely issues of race and representation and who has a voice in UK culture. It was clear that, from Inspector Brandon’s point of view, it was imperative that the demonstration was dispersed as quickly as possible. The onus therefore continues to fall on curators to draw attention to this oversight if the situation arises and challenge the “much ado about nothing” syndrome.
