UK Ministry of Justice spent more than £85,000 removing Banksy mural from the Royal Courts of Justice
According to the BBC, Westminster council has also spent around £60,000 on security measures for a statue the street artist installed in central London in April
The UK Ministry of Justice incurred expenses exceeding £85,000 to remove a Banksy mural from the Royal Courts of Justice in London in September last year. The artwork depicted a judge in a wig and robe striking a protester on the ground with a gavel, which left bloodstains on the placard. Banksy confirmed the mural's authenticity on his Instagram account, captioning it "Royal Courts of Justice: London".
However, the HM Courts and Tribunals Service insisted on preserving the building's original character, leading to the mural's removal. The Ministry of Justice spent £50,000 on paint removal and £35,300 on overtime and security costs, figures revealed via Freedom of Information requests. This revelation may reignite the debate over whether Banksy's work is considered vandalism or valuable public art.
The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into the mural, but no charges have been filed against the anonymous artist. Westminster council, meanwhile, spent nearly £60,000 on safety barriers, administration, and security for a Banksy statue depicting a man carrying a flag that obscures his face, which appeared on Waterloo Place in central London in April. The council has not yet decided whether to make the statue permanent.
Written by urgent.news from The Art Newspaper's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
