Public spending on Banksy artwork management in the UK

Since 2024, British taxpayers have spent nearly £150,000 to manage, secure, or remove various artworks attributed to the anonymous street artist Banksy.

A significant portion of these costs stems from 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 legal system. Because the building is a Grade II listed heritage site, officials are legally required to restore its original appearance.

After initial attempts to wash the graffiti away failed, the site was protected by metal barriers, security guards, and black plastic film. Ultimately, officials utilized specialized laser technology to remove the work, a process estimated to have cost approximately £85,000. This figure includes £50,000 for chemical cleaning and £35,000 for security and overtime.

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