Royal Courts of Justice to remove Banksy mural

updated on 10 September 2025

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Officials have announced plans to remove a recent Banksy mural from the walls of the Royal Courts of Justice, according to Law.com. The mural, which was painted on an external wall of the Queen’s Building, depicts a judge in a wig and black robe hitting a protester lying on the ground.

A HM Courts and Tribunals (HMCTS) spokesperson said: “The Royal Courts of Justice is a listed building and HMCTS are obliged to maintain its original character.” The artwork has since been covered by large sheets of plastic and metal barriers, with court officials confirming that the artwork would be removed.

The mural doesn’t reference a particular incident, but its appearance comes two days after reports that nearly 900 people were arrested at a protest against the ban on Palestine Action. Labour peer Baroness Harriet Harman said she believed the work was a "protest about the law".

Harman added: "Parliament makes the law, and the judges simply interpret the law. I don't think there's any evidence, in terms of the right to protest, that judges have been clamping down on protests beyond what Parliament intended."