Released in 2002, Rude Copper marked Banksy's inaugural print release. This artwork, showcasing the artist's disdain for authority, portrays a British policeman defiantly gesturing with an extended middle finger. Executed in Banksy's distinctive black and white stencil style, the piece employs the perspectival technique of 'foreshortening,' creating the illusion that the officer's hand extends beyond the frame, moving towards the viewer.

The depicted figure dons a custodian helmet, a traditional headgear worn by police in England and Wales during patrols. This choice harks back to the nostalgic charm of television programs like Heartbeat, which romanticized the police force. The model for Rude Copper was the artist Jay Jay Burridge, rumored to share a studio adjacent to Banksy's. The familiar and benevolent image of the 'Bobby' is subverted as the figure, half-shadowed and staring insolently, challenges the viewer's perception, suggesting an imposter in police uniform. Banksy's satire critiques modern policing methods, asserting that the depicted character is far from embodying the qualities of a true 'copper.'

Inspired by the 2000 Terrorism Act, which granted police the authority to conduct searches without suspicion (overruled by a European Court of Human Rights ruling in 2010), Rude Copper powerfully communicates a message. With the forceful gesture of 'giving the finger,' Banksy appears to caution the public about being wary of authorities. Simultaneously, the artwork implies the legal system's disregard for the marginalized and hints at potential issues of corruption and racism within the police force.

Banksy, renowned for critiquing establishments and their representatives, has created other prints with similar themes. Works like Flying Coppers, Kissing Coppers, Applause, CND Soldiers, Golf Sale, Happy Choppers, and Have a Nice Day touch on various societal issues. Some pieces criticize the trivialization of warfare, while others, such as Turf War, Queen Victoria, and Monkey Queen, satirize historical rulers in the UK.