Banksy in pictures - guerrilla artists' best-known works as bills to remove pieces soar

Banksy in pictures - guerrilla artists' best-known works as bills to remove pieces soar The cost of security and removal of three London Banksy art works has spiralled to around £150,000 Iconic pieces of street art by the elusive artist Banksy have cost the taxpayer around £150,000 in security and removal fees. A mural on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice has cost the Department of Justice £85,000 so far in security fees and clean up efforts. A painting of a judge wielding a gavel at a protester lying on the floor with a bloodied placard appeared on the side of the Grade II-listed London building, in September 2025. The artwork was quickly covered with large plastic sheets and metal barriers while clean up efforts started. The MoJ has spent £50,000 so far trying to remove the mural while an extra £35,300 had gone towards security fees and overtime, according to a Freedom of Information request by the BBC. Other works of art that resulted in big bills for the taxpayer include a statue of a man carrying a flag which covered his face, on a plinth in Waterloo Place, near Trafalgar Square. £60,000 was spent by Westminster City Council on security guard & admin. Another costly piece of art was a police sentry box in the City of London, which was sprayed with images of piranhas in 2024. This set back the City of London Police £2,200 to remove the box. Below are some examples of iconic Banksy art works, mostly in the UK.