Taxpayers have funded nearly £150,000 (approximately $190,000) for the removal and security of three artworks attributed to the artist Banksy. The Ministry of Justice reported expenditures of £50,000 for paint removal from the Royal Courts of Justice and an additional £35,000 for overtime and security related to the piece.
This mural, which appeared on the Grade II-listed building in September last year, depicted a judge in a wig striking a protester with a gavel. The artist later confirmed responsibility for the work via an Instagram post. Some interpret the mural as a commentary on the arrest of individuals supporting Palestine Action, a group banned by the government in July 2024.
Security guards were stationed by the artwork at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
In a separate incident in April of this year, a statue resembling a figure with a flag covering its face emerged near Trafalgar Square. Westminster City Council reported spending £60,000 on safety barriers, administration, and a security guard for this piece. Banksy claimed responsibility for this artwork as well.
Additionally, in August 2024, a Banksy artwork featuring piranha fish on a City of London Police sentry box, originally installed in the 1990s, was removed. The cost of removal was £2,200, and the sentry box was not replaced. It has since been placed in storage and is slated for display at the London Museum.
Banksy, whose true identity remains unconfirmed, is known globally for politically charged murals. Critics have debated the value of his work, with some arguing it benefits tourism and makes art accessible, while others, such as Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy, have called the vandalism 'outrageous' and suggested the artist should bear the costs.