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New Banksy mural appears at Royal Courts of Justice
A new mural by elusive street artist Banksy has appeared on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice building in central London.
It depicts a judge in a traditional wig and black robe hitting a protester lying on the ground, with blood splattering their placard.
While the mural does not reference a particular cause or incident, its appearance comes two days after almost 900 people were arrested at a London protest against the ban on Palestine Action.
The artwork was quickly covered up by large sheets of plastic and metal barriers. Court officials told the BBC the work would be removed.
The Metropolitan police said it had received a report of criminal damage and that enquiries would continue.
A spokesperson for HM Courts and Tribunals said that the Royal Courts of Justice was a listed building and that it was "obliged to maintain its original character".
The spot Banksy chose was on an external wall of the Queen's Building, part of the Royal Courts of Justice complex, on the usually quiet Carey Street. On Monday it was busy with onlookers taking pictures of the recently hidden patch of wall.
One of two security officers outside the building said they did not know how much longer they would be required to stand guard, adding, "At least it's not raining."
The Bristol-based street artist shared a photo of the wall art on Instagram, which is Banksy's usual method of claiming a work as authentic. The artist captioned the picture: "Royal Courts Of Justice. London."
Labour peer Baroness Harriet Harman said she believed the work was a "protest about the law" without specifying which legislation she meant.
"Parliament makes the law, and the judges simply interpret the law," she added. "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."
Banksy's stencilled graffiti is often critical of government policy, war and capitalism.
Last summer, the artist began an animal-themed campaign in the capital of nine works, which concluded with a gorilla appearing to lift up a shutter on the entrance to London Zoo.
Other notable works included piranhas swimming on a police sentry box in the City of London, and a howling wolf on a satellite dish, which was taken off the roof of a shop in Peckham, south London, less than an hour after it was unveiled.
Banksy has in the past also been known for his work in the West Bank.
In December 2019 he created a "modified Nativity" at a hotel in Bethlehem which showed Jesus' manger in front of Israel's separation barrier, which appeared to have been pierced by a blast, creating the shape of a star.
Israel says the barrier is needed to prevent infiltrations from the West Bank but Palestinians say it is a tool to grab land.
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PC admits attempting to blackmail man over indecent images of children arrest
A police officer has admitted trying to blackmail a man by demanding money to prevent information about his arrest for allegedly possessing indecent images of children being publicised.
PC Marie Thompson, 29, of South Yorkshire Police, was the officer in charge of an investigation into a man suspected of possessing indecent images of children, and she arrested and interviewed the man on 6 October 2022.
The suspect was then released under investigation, pending further examination of his digital devices.
On 17 January 2023, the man received an email from a ProtonMail address demanding £3,500 be paid into a bank account, with an account number and sort code provided. The email purported to be from Paedophile Hunters and stated that the payment would “ensure that information remains between you and us”.
Later the same day, the man’s partner received a text message requesting that a reply was needed by the end of the day. No money was transferred by the man.
The man reported the correspondence to South Yorkshire Police via the force’s 101 service, and PC Thompson told the man she would investigate the matter but falsely endorsed the crime report to say that he did not want to pursue a complaint.
The investigation was closed, and PC Thompson lied again to the man six weeks later saying that the sender of the email and text message could not be traced.
PC Thompson was suspended from South Yorkshire Police in March 2023 for other matters and another officer took over the indecent images of children investigation and was informed about the report of blackmail.
It was discovered that the text had been sent from PC Thompson’s personal mobile phone. Examination of her laptop also showed email fragments which matched the heading of the email demanding money, but the contents of the message and recipient address could not be recovered.
Today at Leeds Crown Court, PC Thompson, who remains suspended from the force, pleaded guilty to blackmail and perverting the course of justice. She will be sentenced at the same court on 30 October 2025.
The prosecution followed an investigation by South Yorkshire Police’s professional standards department.
Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “PC Marie Thompson tried to abuse her position as the investigating police officer in this case for financial gain.
“To try and turn an investigation of a suspect into a chance to blackmail them out of money is disgraceful, and then to falsify police reports to cover her tracks is reprehensible.
“The fact that blackmail is a serious crime, no matter who the victim is or what they have done, should have been obvious to anyone, especially a police officer.
“Her conduct amounted to a serious abuse of the trust which we rightly have in anyone in public office to perform their duties.
“The CPS will always work hard to prosecute corruption of this nature so that the public can have full confidence in all parts of policing and the criminal justice system.”
Notes to editors
PC Marie Thompson, [DOB: 31/08/1996], is of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
On 26 August 2025 at Leeds Crown Court, she pleaded guilty to blackmail, contrary to section 21(1) of the Theft Act 1968, and perverting the course of justice, contrary to common law.
She will be sentenced on 30 October 2025.
There is a reporting restriction in place under Section 46 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 preventing identification of the victim and his partner in this case.
The man suspected of possessing indecent images of children, who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions, was charged and received a suspended prison sentence.
The CPS Special Crime Division deals with the most complex and sensitive cases in England and Wales including disasters, serious criminal allegations against police officers, corporate manslaughter and election offences.
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Arrests as NCA uncovers cannabis farm and drugs supply network in the West Midlands
National Crime Agency officers have discovered a cannabis farm in Dudley following a series of dawn raids which were part of an ongoing investigation into organised immigration crime.
Officers arrested six people as part of the coordinated operation today (4 September), which also saw properties raided across Birmingham.
Nobody was present at the home in Corser Street, Dudley, but officers discovered almost 80 cannabis plants worth approximately ÂŁ80,000.
A 34-year-old Albanian man was arrested at an address on Cornbrook Road, Birmingham, along with a 29-year-old woman and 21-year-old man who were apprehended for immigration offences and will be dealt with by Immigration Enforcement. Officers also discovered approximately ÂŁ50,000 in cash in the house and around 20 kilos of herbal cannabis in the loft.
A 31-year-old man was arrested at an address on Fountain Road, Birmingham. He and the 34-year-old were apprehended on suspicion of cannabis cultivation, conspiracy to supply class B drugs and money laundering.
Officers also raided a suspected stash house on Warstone Lane, Birmingham, where they found approximately two kilos of cocaine. Two men, aged 23 and 25 and, were arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.
Another address on Pumphouse Way, Birmingham, was also visited. Nobody was present but officers found a large amount of cannabis cultivation equipment in a garden shed.
NCA Branch Commander Saju Sasikumar said: “Organised immigration crime and cannabis cultivation are often closely linked, with people illegally in the UK frequently exploited and put to work in this trade, or forced to pay off the debt for their journey to get here.
“This is a significant drug seizure which will leave a huge financial hole on the organised crime groups involved, and the street gangs they supply.”
The operation was supported by officers from the West Midlands Police Cannabis Disruption Team.
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