Comment: Rachel Campbell-Johnston

The striking mural, painted under cover of darkness, was intended as a stinging criticism of Big Brother society. So it will come as little surprise to its creator, Banksy, that bureaucracy has ordered the removal of one of his largest works.

The Times has learnt that Westminster Council has demanded that a mural by the pseudonymous graffiti artist, a 7m (23 ft) criticism of Britain’s CCTV culture, must be painted over. While other authorities have turned a blind eye to Banksy, the council said yesterday that it would remove any graffiti, regardless of the reputation of its creator. Westminster said that Banksy had no more right to paint graffiti than a child – which, ironically, is the subject of the piece in question (pictured above).

Robert Davis, the chairman of Westminster’s planning committee, said that the personality behind the artwork was irrelevant. “If we condone this then we might as well say that any kid with a spray can is producing art,” he said. “To go and deface other people’s property is graffiti. Just because he’s famous doesn’t give him that right.”

Banksy’s rise from street artist to a formidable player in the art world began five years ago, following a landmark show in Shoreditch.

Although his canvases sell for hundreds of thousands of pounds each in the finest auction houses, his roots and passion remain in illegal street art.

His identity has always been a closely guarded secret, known only to a small circle of friends and associates. He has done only one full newspaper interview and never publicly attends his exhibitions.

Banksy: an artist to be cherished or law-dodging vandal? Have your say below

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