Banksy's £150,000 Taxpayer Bill: The Three Artworks, Cleanup Costs, and the Art vs. Vandalism Debate

Three of the most recent works by anonymous street artist Banksy in London have landed UK taxpayers with a bill of nearly £150,000 for cleanup, security, and administrative expenses, according to figures obtained by the BBC through Freedom of Information requests . The total is expected to rise further as one removal job remains incomplete .

Here is a breakdown of the three artworks, the specific costs incurred for each, the novel methods used to remove them, and the sharp divisions between those who see vandalism and those who see valuable public art.

The Three Artworks and Their Costs

1. Royal Courts of Justice Mural (September 2025) – Over £85,000

A stencilled mural appeared on the Queen's Building of the Royal Courts of Justice in London. It shows a judge in a traditional wig and robe battering a protester with his gavel; the protester lies on the ground holding a blood-spattered placard . Many activists interpreted the piece as a commentary on the arrest of hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators under the Terrorism Act .

• Paint removal: The Ministry of Justice spent £50,000 attempting to remove paint from the wall of the Grade II-listed building .
• Overtime and security: A further £35,300 was spent on overtime for staff and security costs to guard the area .

Total: more than £85,000

2. Statue of a Man Carrying a Flag, Waterloo Place (April 2026) – Almost £60,000

A statue depicting a man carrying a flag that covers his face appeared on a plinth near Trafalgar Square in central London .

• Safety barriers, administration, and a security guard: Westminster City Council spent almost £60,000 on these measures .

Total: almost £60,000

3. Piranha Fish on a City of London Police Sentry Box (August 2024) – £2,200

Banksy painted piranha fish on a police sentry box that had been installed in the 1990s as an anti-IRA security measure .

• Removal and storage: The sentry box was removed at a cost of £2,200 and was never replaced. It is now in storage and due to be displayed at the London Museum .

Total: £2,200

Removal Methods: From Scrubbing to Lasers

The removal of the Royal Courts of Justice mural has proven particularly difficult. Initial attempts to scrub the paint off the wall were not completely successful . Contractors then deployed laser technology on site to remove the paint from the historic stonework .

Westminster City Council will inspect the wall. If removal is deemed incomplete, another cleaning method will be required. As a final option, the affected stonework may have to be removed and replaced . In addition, a Listed Building Consent application has been submitted to install railings across the wall that the mural was painted on. The cost of those railings is not yet known .

Art or Vandalism? The Two Sides

The Vandalism View

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy said it was "outrageous" that taxpayers' money was being spent on cleanup. "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," he told the BBC .

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers received a report of criminal damage to the Royal Courts of Justice and that a criminal investigation remains ongoing .

The Art / Public Value View

Art critic Estelle Lovatt defended Banksy's work and pointed to tourism benefits: "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" .