Banksy works cost public almost £150,000

Taxpayers have spent nearly £150,000 on cleaning and security operations for just three artworks by the elusive street artist Banksy, with the total cost expected to increase. The most significant expenditure, exceeding £85,000, is associated with a mural that appeared on the Royal Courts of Justice in London in September 2025.

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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.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that £50,000 was spent attempting to remove paint from the Grade II-listed building's wall. An additional £35,300 covered overtime and security costs incurred by staff who guarded the artwork. These figures were revealed through Freedom of Information requests.

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Our courts are a national symbol of justice and the rule of law.

The mural in question depicted a judge in a wig striking a protester with his gavel. Banksy claimed the work on his official website and Instagram. The incident prompted a police investigation into criminal damage, though no arrests have been made.

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Banksy's vandalism should be stopped and he should foot the bill for the costs he imposes on others.

This expenditure has fueled a debate about the nature of Banksy's interventions. While some, like Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy, decry the costs as "outrageous" and call for Banksy to cover the expenses, others, such as art critic Estelle Lovatt, defend the artist's work. Lovatt highlighted the potential tourism benefits and the way Banksy's art brings people together, comparing him to a "Pied Piper" who makes art accessible without gallery fees.

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Some people visit Buckingham Palace and others visit Banksy's art.