Urinating and theft among reasons for library bans

2 days ago

Phil Wilkinson JonesLocal Democracy Reporter, Worcestershire

News image — A Freedom of Information request found 87 bans were issued in the past five years from Worcestershire's libraries

Getty Images The exterior of The Hive in Worcester, a distinctive gold building with a honeycomb-type pattern on the walls. A sign outside reads "The Hive". People are walking along the pedestrianised area outside. — A Freedom of Information request found 87 bans were issued in the past five years from Worcestershire's libraries

Libraries in a county have banned users for swearing, stealing computers or using them in an "inappropriate way", and even urinating in a bin and "soiling furniture".

The information, collected through a Freedom of Information request, found 87 bans were issued in Worcestershire in the past five years – mostly for threatening, disruptive and aggressive behaviour.

A three-month ban was issued in January 2025 after a library user urinated in a bin at Worcester's St John's Library while, a month later, another similar ban was given to someone for urinating near the entrance of Redditch Library.

In 2021, someone was banned for a month after "soiling library furniture" at Bromsgrove Library.

The data also showed that one user received a three-month ban for stealing a library PC from the Hive in Worcester in February 2022 and another similar length ban was issued for theft of property from the same library in January.

Two other bans were issued to people for damaging library property at the city centre library in 2025 and 12 users were banned for the "inappropriate use of library computers".

Several bans were also given for people smoking, vaping, drinking alcohol and using drugs on library premises.

The longest ban was six months, given for the use of intimidating behaviour towards staff and other library users at Kidderminster's library in May 2024.

'Libraries are safe'

The county council said the number of people banned was a small percentage of the thousands who used the library service each year, most of whom were respectful.

A spokesperson said: "Worcestershire's libraries are safe, welcoming, and thriving community spaces, thanks to the dedication of our library staff and the respectful behaviour of visitors.

"Over the past five years, there have been 87 exclusions from Worcestershire's libraries for disruptive, threatening or aggressive behaviour; a very small number of the thousands of visitors who use our libraries each year.

"The council takes any incidents of this kind extremely seriously and is committed to ensuring that everyone can enjoy these spaces safely."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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