Banksy street art cost taxpayer nearly £150,000, with bill expected to rise

Banksy street art cost taxpayer nearly £150,000, with bill expected to rise Local authorities and a government department said artworks by the elusive street artist Banksy have set them back thousands of pounds in fees Three iconic street artworks by Banksy have reportedly cost the public a staggering £150,000 in cleaning and security fees. The elusive artist, thought to be from Bristol, is known for his graffiti murals that often pop up overnight and they attract large crowds. Despite all the people who come to visit these murals, some councils and a government department have been forced to spend thousands of pounds in taxpayer money in security and cleaning fees. A mural on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice has set back the Department of Justice a staggering £85,000 so far in security fees and clean up efforts. The artwork depicts a protester lying on the floor, with blood on their placard, while they are being hit by a judge wielding a gavel. The mural popped up in September 2025 and was quickly covered by metal barriers and large plastic sheets. The MoJ said £50,000 has been spent so far trying to remove the artwork from the Grade II-listed central London court and an extra £35,300 on security fees and overtime, according to a Freedom of Information request by the BBC. A HM Courts and Tribunals Service spokesperson told the BBC: "The Royal Courts of Justice is a listed building and HMCTS are obliged to maintain its original character." The Mirror has reached out to the MoJ for comment. Another Banksy artwork that led to a big bill for the taxpayer was a statue of a man carrying a flag which covered his face, on a plinth in Waterloo Place, near Trafalgar Square. Westminster City Council, which owns the land the statue was placed, said it has forked out around £60,000 on a safety barrier around the art, after it was erected in April 2026. That money has also been spent on admin fees and a security guard. Banksy, in Instagram videos, took responsibility for the statue. The Mirror has reached out to the council for comment. A third Banksy work that set the authorities back was a police sentry box in the City of London, which was sprayed with images of piranhas in 2024. The police box had been on Ludgate Hill since the 1990s, in response to IRA attacks across London at the time. The box was removed after it was painted and this set back the City of London £2,200. The police box was removed from the street and will be exhibited at the new London Museum with it reopens later this year. The Mirror has reached out to the City of London for comment. It comes after an investigation by Reuters claimed to have uncovered the 'real' identity of the Bristol artist. Banksy is reportedly a pseudonym of Robin Gunningham, who changed his legal name to David Jones.