Banksy artworks cost UK taxpayers nearly £150,000 to manage

British taxpayers have spent nearly £150,000 (approximately €175,000) since 2024 to manage, secure, or remove various artworks attributed to the anonymous street artist Banksy.

The largest single expense involves a mural appearing in September 2025 on the walls of the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The artwork, which depicts a judge in a traditional wig striking a protester, was interpreted as a critique of the government's crackdown on the group Palestine Action. Because the building is a Grade II listed heritage site, the HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is legally required to restore its original appearance. Costs for this specific operation have exceeded £85,000, including £50,000 for chemical cleaning and £35,000 for security and overtime.

Additional costs include £60,000 spent by the Westminster City Council for barriers and security to protect a Banksy statue installed at Waterloo Place in April. Earlier, in August 2024, the removal of a Banksy installation involving a police station in the City of London cost approximately £2,200. These expenditures have reignited debates regarding the distinction between cultural enrichment and criminal vandalism.