Anthony Ward

Three Banksy works in England have cost taxpayers approximately £150,000 through cleaning, security and administrative measures, with the total expected to rise. More than £85,000 has been spent addressing a 2025 mural on the Royal Courts of Justice in London, while Westminster City Council spent about £60,000 on security and administration related to a Banksy sculpture at Waterloo Place. A 2024 mural on a City of London Police security kiosk led to the kiosk’s removal at a cost of £2,200. The expenses have renewed debate over whether Banksy’s unauthorized works constitute vandalism or valuable public art. Conservative politician Nick Timothy called the spending unacceptable, while art critic Estelle Lovatt argued that Banksy attracts visitors and makes art accessible.