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Monday, 12 October 2026
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United Kingdom

Three Banksy artworks in London have cost British taxpayers nearly £150,000

Monday, 10 August 2026, 06:28 · 1 min read

Three unsanctioned artworks by street artist Banksy have collectively cost UK taxpayers close to £150,000 in removal, security, and administrative expenses, with costs still rising. The largest bill — over £85,000 — stems from a mural painted on the Grade II-listed Royal Courts of Justice in September 2025 depicting a wigged judge striking a protester with his gavel; laser removal attempts are ongoing, and replacing the stonework entirely remains a last resort. A statue installed overnight in Waterloo Place near Trafalgar Square has cost Westminster city council nearly £60,000, while a 2024 piranha-fish painting on a City of London police sentry box cost £2,200 to remove — that box is set to be displayed at the London Museum when it reopens in November.

Sources
The Guardian — Three Banksy artworks in London have cost taxpayers nearly £150,000 ↗︎
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