A mural painted on the Royal Courts of Justice in September last year has resulted in the largest single cost.
Three Banksy works have cost taxpayers almost £150,000 in clean-up and security costs.
A mural painted on the Royal Courts of Justice in September last year has resulted in the largest single cost, with security and efforts to remove it already adding up to more than £85,000.
The Ministry of Justice said it has already spent £50,000 trying to remove paint from the wall of the Grade II listed building in Carey Street, while an additional £35,300 has been spent on overtime and security costs.
The image depicted a protester lying on the ground holding a blood-spattered placard, while a judge, in a wig and gown, looms over him, wielding a gavel.
After appearing on an external wall of the Queen’s Building, in the Royal Courts of Justice complex, efforts were made to remove it as the building is listed and therefore legally protected.
The costs were disclosed to the BBC through a freedom of information request, which also revealed how much has been spent on removing other examples of the artist’s work.
In April this year, a statue of a man carrying a flag covering his face appeared in Waterloo Place near Trafalgar Square, with Banksy then claiming credit for the work.
Westminster City Council has spent almost £60,000 on safety barriers, administration and paying for a security guard to keep watch over it.
In August 2024, Banksy painted piranha fish on a City of London Police sentry box, which had been installed in the 1990s.
After Banksy painted it, the box was removed at a cost of £2,200 and was never replaced.
It was then put in storage and is set to go on display at the London Museum when it reopens in November.
Banksy, whose real name has never been officially confirmed, has become famous across the world for politically charged murals, including 2002’s Girl With Balloon, 2003’s Love Is In The Air, and 2004’s Kissing Coppers.
The artist confirmed he was responsible for the work at the Royal Courts of Justice with a post on Instagram, showing the graffiti before it was covered over.
Banksy, whose identity is the source of constant speculation, captioned the pictures: “Royal Courts Of Justice. London.”
His mural was interpreted by some as a comment on the arrest of hundreds of people for supporting Palestine Action by holding up placards at protests.
In July last year, Palestine Action was banned by the Government as a terrorist group after activists damaged RAF planes.
