Three works by Banksy cost British taxpayers nearly £150,000
Three works by street artist Banksy in London cost taxpayers nearly £150,000. The expenses include cleanup, security, safety barriers, and administrative work, according to The Guardian.
The largest expenses are associated with a mural Banksy created in September 2025 on the Royal Courts of Justice building in London. According to the BBC, attempts to remove the artwork and provide security have already cost more than £85,000. The UK Ministry of Justice stated in a response to a freedom of information request that £50,000 was spent on cleaning the wall of the Grade II listed building on Carey Street, and another £35,000 on overtime and security.
The mural depicted a judge in a wig striking a protester with a hammer. Banksy confirmed his authorship by posting images of the work on his website and on Instagram. Initial attempts to clean the wall were unsuccessful, so contractors are now using laser technology. If Westminster City Council deems the result unsatisfactory, they may use a different cleaning method. As a last resort, the affected section of masonry may be removed and replaced.
An application has also been submitted to install a fence in front of the section of the wall where the mural appeared. The cost of installation is not yet known.
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Westminster City Council spent nearly another £60,000 on a statue of a man holding a flag that appeared in April on Waterloo Place near Trafalgar Square. Banksy claimed authorship of the installation by posting a video on Instagram showing it being installed at night. The council reported that the funds were allocated for security barriers, administration, and security personnel. As the landowner, the council now owns the statue and is considering options for its short-, medium-, and long-term future.
In August 2024, Banksy painted a police guardhouse in the City of London with a swarm of piranhas. The booth, installed in the 1990s as a security measure against the IRA, was dismantled at a cost of £2,200. It was not replaced; following the reopening of the London Museum in November, the booth is set to be displayed there.
Shadow Justice Minister Nick Timothy called the use of public funds to clean up after the artist “outrageous” and stated that Banksy should reimburse these costs. At the same time, art historian Estelle Lovatt noted that the artist’s works attract visitors and make art more accessible, since they do not require an admission fee to the gallery.
