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Banksy mural 'is graffiti' and will be covered up
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A 23ft Banksy mural in central London is being covered over after being described as "graffiti".
The artwork, on a Royal Mail building, is emblazoned with the stenciled words: "One nation under CCTV".
Two painted figures are featured in the work, one showing a child-like figure in a red hooded top apparently painting the words while a police officer figure holds a camera and a brown dog looks on.
In October, Westminster City Council's planning sub-committee agreed that it should be removed.
Robert Davis, deputy leader of the council, said: "I take the view that this is graffiti and if you condone this then what is the difference between this and all the other graffiti you see scrawled across the city?
"If you condone this then you condone graffiti all over London."
It is understood that the huge Banksy work is being covered rather than destroyed. Scaffolding surrounded the mural, partially obscuring it.
A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Unfortunately, Westminster City Council have told us that we must either remove or cover up the mural.
"We are having to do this simply because we have been told to."
