Street artist Banksy's works have cost UK taxpayers almost £150,000 in cleaning and security costs, according to figures obtained by the BBC via Freedom of Information requests. The largest expense stems from a mural painted on the Grade II-listed Royal Courts of Justice in London in September 2025, depicting a judge striking a protester with a gavel, which the artist has claimed as his own. The disclosure is likely to reignite debate over whether Banksy's work constitutes vandalism or valuable public art, with the bill expected to rise further.

The Ministry of Justice has spent £50,000 attempting to remove paint from the Carey Street building, plus a further £35,300 on overtime and security, taking costs for that mural alone above £85,000. Initial cleaning attempts failed, prompting contractors to use laser technology, and a Listed Building Consent application has been submitted, with the affected stonework potentially needing removal if cleaning proves unsuccessful. Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy condemned the spending as an outrage and called for Banksy to cover the costs, while art critic Estelle Lovatt defended the work, citing its cultural and tourism value.