A pretty penny: three Banksy artworks cost taxpayers £150,000 in upkeep
Summary
Three Banksy artworks in London have cost taxpayers nearly £150,000 for cleaning, security, and removal efforts, especially a mural on the Royal Courts of Justice. The costs are raising questions about whether Banksy’s street art on historic buildings is vandalism or valuable public art.Key Facts
- The mural on the Royal Courts of Justice, painted in September 2025, has cost over £85,000 for removal and security.
- The Ministry of Justice spent £50,000 trying to remove paint from the Grade II-listed building and £35,000 on overtime and security.
- The mural showed a judge hitting a protester and was confirmed by Banksy via his website and Instagram.
- Initial cleaning attempts failed, and laser technology is now used; stonework replacement is a last option.
- Westminster City Council spent nearly £60,000 on safety and security for a Banksy statue appearing near Trafalgar Square.
- A third Banksy artwork painted on a City of London police box cost £2,200 to remove and will be shown at the London Museum.
- The artistic value of Banksy’s work is debated, with some seeing it as vandalism and others as an attraction that boosts tourism.
- Discussions continue about who should pay for the costs caused by Banksy’s artworks on public and historic buildings.
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