Transport for London has said they're tightening security on "high-profile" bus stop ads in a bid to stop repeated anti-Israel vandalism of advertising boards.

The organisation confirmed that they are installing a new type of lock that may prevent activists defacing ads after a successful trial in several London locations.

In recent months, several posters at bus stops around London have been replaced by anti-Israel messaging by activists branding Israel an "apartheid state." Earlier this month, posters using dictionary-style text to brand Israel as an “apartheid” state were spotted at at bus stops in Chalk Farm and other locations. 

The Twitter account Protest Stencil, which regularly shares anti-Israel artwork placed in advertising displays posted a picture on Twitter on Thursday with the caption, “Eyes peeled if you're out and about!”

In October 2021, posters that parodied the cover of Sally Rooney’s best-seller Normal People reading “Normal People Boycott Israel" were placed in prominent locations around the capital.

Following these repeated incidents of anti-Israel vandalism, TfL has now said they're piloting new locks on the ad displays to prevent activists from accessing the posters within.

In a statement to the Jewish News, TfL said: “Fly posting, including the use of unauthorised advertising, is an act of vandalism which we take extremely seriously. As soon as we are made aware of these incidents, we instruct our contractors to attend and remove any of this material found on our network.”

“Following a trial to strengthen the security of our bus shelter advertising panels, which concluded in December 2021, we now have identified a new lock design which will significantly reduce unauthorised access. This has already been installed in a number of high priority locations across London, and we are currently identifying further locations to implement this improvement.”