A new mural by elusive street artist Banksy has appeared outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

The artwork depicts a scene where a judge in a traditional wig and black gown is shown beating an unarmed protester with a gavel.

The protester lies on the ground, holding a blood-splattered placard.

Banksy posted a photo of the mural on Instagram, his usual method for claiming authenticity.

The post was captioned 'Royal Courts Of Justice.

London.'While the artwork does not specifically reference any particular cause or incident, activists see it as a reference to the UK government's ban on the group Palestine Action.

On Saturday, almost 900 people were arrested at a London protest challenging this ban.

Defend Our Juries, the organization behind the protest, released a statement noting that the mural 'powerfully depicts the brutality unleashed' by the government's ban.

They added that such actions only strengthen dissent rather than extinguish it.In response to the artwork, security officials outside the courthouse covered the mural with black plastic sheets and placed two metal barriers around it.

The area is being guarded by two officers and a CCTV camera.

This kind of protective measure reflects the controversial nature of Banksy's work, which often addresses political issues directly.