Three artworks by street artist Banksy have cost taxpayers almost £150,000 in cleaning operations and security so far, with the bill expected to rise. The spending was disclosed to the through Freedom of Information requests and is likely to reignite debate over whether Banksy’s work is vandalism or valuable public art.
The largest single cost relates to a mural painted on the Royal Courts of Justice in September 2025, where removal efforts and security have so far cost more than £85,000. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) says it has spent £50,000 trying to remove paint from the wall of the Grade II-listed building in Carey Street, while a further £35,300 was spent on overtime and security costs.
Banksy, who emerged from Bristol’s graffiti scene in the 1990s and became one of the world’s most famous street artists, is known for murals and installations that often appear overnight and attract large crowds. The latest costs relate to a mural depicting a judge in a wig battering a protester with his gavel, which appeared on the Royal Courts of Justice in London on 8 September 2025. Banksy claimed the image as his own work by posting it on his website and Instagram account.
A HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) spokesperson said: “The Royal Courts of Justice is a listed building and HMCTS are obliged to maintain its original character.” The Metropolitan Police confirmed that on 8 September, officers received a report of criminal damage to the side of the building. At this time, no arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing.
Court staff barricaded off the area and guarded it, with security guards screening off the mural. First attempts to scrub off the paint on the court were not completely successful, so contractors have been on site using “laser technology” to address the damage. Cleaning efforts are continuing behind scaffolding, panelling, and a locked doorway.
But the fact he has painted on an historic court has divided opinion. Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy said: “It’s outrageous that tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money – maybe more – will have to be spent cleaning up after Banksy, who seems to believe he has a right to deface public buildings with impunity. Our courts are a national symbol of justice and the rule of law. Banksy’s vandalism should be stopped and he should foot the bill for the costs he imposes on others.”
However, art critic Estelle Lovatt defended Banksy’s work and pointed to the benefits for tourism: “Some people visit Buckingham Palace and others visit Banksy’s art. His work brings people together in a way that politics can divide us. He’s like the Pied Piper or a town crier. It can be intimidating if a mural appears on your building, in terms of the crowds, but he makes art accessible because there’s no gallery fee.”
This is not the first time Banksy has painted on a listed building. His early works in Bristol included a mural of a man hanging from a window on a Georgian house, marking a long history of his work appearing in public spaces.
As the bill for these operations continues to climb, the tension between the preservation of historic sites and the cultural impact of street art remains a point of significant public and political contention.
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