Banksy's artworks cost UK taxpayers nearly £150,000
Banksy works cost public almost £150k
Three Banksy murals and installations have cost UK taxpayers almost £150,000 in cleaning, security, and removal efforts, with the bill expected to rise. The most expensive was a mural on the Royal Courts of Justice, where removal and security costs exceeded £85,000. The Ministry of Justice spent £50,000 on paint removal and £35,300 on overtime and security. Other works, including a statue in Waterloo Place and a piranha-painted police box, added to the costs. The spending has reignited debate over whether Banksy's work is vandalism or valuable public art.
It's outrageous that tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money – maybe more – will have to be spent cleaning up after Banksy, who seems to believe he has a right to deface public buildings with impunity.