UK Ministry of Justice Spent £85,300 Removing Banksy Mural from Royal Courts of Justice

The UK Ministry of Justice spent £85,300 to remove a Banksy mural from the Royal Courts of Justice in London, according to documents disclosed to the BBC through Freedom of Information requests. The mural, painted in September 2025, depicted a judge striking a demonstrator with a gavel, and was verified by Banksy on Instagram. The HM Courts and Tribunals Service covered the work, citing the building's listed status. Removal costs included £50,000 for cleaning chemicals and £35,300 for overtime and security. The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation, but no arrests have been made as of 10 August 2026. Separately, Westminster Council spent nearly £60,000 on safety and security for a Banksy statue on Waterloo Place, which appeared in April. The council will decide by the end of summer whether to make the statue permanent. The expenses have reignited debate over whether Banksy's work constitutes vandalism or valuable public art.