Banksy mural of judge beating a protester scrubbed off Royal Courts of Justice in London

A new Banksy artwork that sprung up this week at the Royal Courts of Justice in London has been scrubbed off.

As we reported this week, the mural by the ever-elusive street artist depicted a helpless protester lying on the ground holding a blood-spattered placard, while a judge loomed over him wielding a gavel. 

British police moved quickly to cover-up a mural, with HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) taking the decision to remove it due to the Victorian gothic revival style building being 143 years old and listed - therefore legally protected. 

Good Law Project posted on X about the artwork's removal: "The court is erasing Banksy's mural just like it's erasing our right to protest. It only took 48 hours for the Royal Courts of Justice to scrub out a Banksy showing a judge striking down a protester with his gavel.” 

The post added: “Silencing a work of art about silencing protest? Maybe it was a little too close to home." 

Banksy confirmed he was responsible for the work with a post on Instagram, showing the graffiti before it was covered over. 

The artwork comes after almost 900 demonstrators were arrested for protesting in central London on Saturday against the banning of Palestine Action as a terror group. 

The group was proscribed by the UK government under anti-terror laws earlier this year - making support for the direct action group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Recently, Downing Street warned best-selling Irish author Sally Rooney that her public pledge to support the banned group Palestine Action could fall foul of terrorism laws.