Three Public Artworks by Banksy Have Cost UK Taxpayers Almost $200,000
Public authorities in London have spent nearly $203,000 since 2024 removing, protecting, and managing three Banksy works, according to BBC figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests, ARTnews reports. The most expensive case is a mural on the Royal Courts of Justice showing a judge striking a protester with a gavel, which has cost the UK Ministry of Justice $67,000 in removal efforts plus another $48,000 for security and staff overtime; contractors are now using laser technology and may need to replace affected stonework if removal fails. Westminster City Council spent nearly $81,000 on barriers, security, and administration after Banksy installed a statue in Waterloo Place near Trafalgar Square in April, and the council is still deciding what to do with it. In August 2024, the City of London removed a police sentry box painted with piranha fish for almost $3,000, placed it into storage, and plans to display it when the London Museum reopens in November.
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This story was covered in Museums Under Pressure, Banksy’s Price Tag