Banksy works cost public almost £150k
The Public Price of Banksy: Taxpayers Foot £150k Bill
The world-renowned street artist Banksy has left a financial mark on the public purse, with cleaning and security operations for three of his recent works costing taxpayers nearly £150,000. This figure is expected to climb as restoration efforts continue.
The Royal Courts of Justice Controversy
The most significant expense stems from a mural that appeared on the Royal Courts of Justice in September 2025. The artwork depicts a judge in a traditional wig using his gavel to batter a protester.
Financial Breakdown: Royal Courts
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) revealed the following expenditures via Freedom of Information requests:
| Expense Category | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Paint Removal (Grade II-listed wall) | £50,000 |
| Security & General Operations | >£35,000 |
| Total to Date | >£85,000 |
The Restoration Process
Because the building is a Grade II-listed structure, the HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is legally required to preserve its original state. The removal process has been difficult:
Current Status of the Site:
- Complete paint removal.
- Westminster City Council final inspection.
- Approval of
Listed Building Consent (LBC)for new railings.
A Divided Public Opinion
The incident has reignited the perennial debate: is Banksy's work vandalism or valuable public art?
"It's outrageous that tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money... will have to be spent cleaning up after Banksy, who seems to believe he has a right to deface public buildings with impunity." — Nick Timothy, Shadow Justice Secretary
Conversely, art critic Estelle Lovatt argues that the artist provides a unique public service:
"His work brings people together in a way that politics can divide us... he makes art accessible because there's no gallery fee."
Other Costly Installations
The Royal Courts mural is not an isolated incident. Two other recent works have incurred significant public costs:
1. The Waterloo Place Statue (April)
A statue of a man with a flag obscuring his face, appearing to fall from its plinth, was installed near Trafalgar Square.
- Cost: Nearly £60,000 spent by Westminster City Council.
- Expenses included: Security guards, administrative costs, and safety barriers.
- Current Status: The council now owns the statue and is reviewing long-term options.
2. The Police Sentry Box (August 2024)
Banksy painted piranha fish on a City of London Police sentry box, a structure originally installed in the 1990s for IRA-related security.
- Cost: £2,200 for removal.
- Outcome: The box was not replaced; it is currently in storage and scheduled for display at the London Museum starting in November.
Summary of Total Expenditure
The cumulative cost to the public can be represented by the following sum:
Despite the costs, Banksy's influence remains potent. From his origins in the 1990s Bristol graffiti scene—where his early work included a man hanging from a Georgian house window—to his current global fame, his murals continue to be primary tourist draws for the city of Bristol.
Reported by: Anthony Ward
Published: 9 August 2026
Location: Bristol