Banksy works cost public almost £150,000
Taxpayers have spent nearly £150,000 on cleaning and security costs related to three Banksy murals, including a controversial piece on the Royal Courts of Justice. The expenditure has sparked a public debate over whether the artist's work constitutes valuable public art or criminal vandalism.
Why it matters
The story illustrates the tension between public spending, the preservation of historic buildings, and the cultural value of street art.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Banksy stencilled a mural on a wall of the Royal Courts of Justice in 2025
Three artworks by street artist Banksy have cost taxpayers almost £150,000 in cleaning operations and security so far, with the bill expected to rise.
The largest single cost relates to a mural painted on the Royal Courts of Justice in September 2025, where removal efforts and security have so far cost more than £85,000.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) says it has spent £50,000 trying to remove paint from the wall of the Grade II-listed building in Carey Street. A further £35,300 was spent on overtime and security costs.
The spending was disclosed to the BBC through Freedom of Information requests and is likely to reignite debate over whether Banksy's work is vandalism or valuable public art.
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