Threatening behaviour and vaping included in reasons people received bans from Worcestershire libraries
A total of 87 bans have been issued by library bosses over the past five years
Last updated 19th Feb 2026
People across Worcestershire have been banned from libraries in the county for a number of different reasons including swearing, vaping, stealing computers and urinating in a bin over the past five years, according to data.
Library bosses have issued 87 bans over the period, most being for the use of threatening, disruptive and aggressive behaviour towards staff or customers.
Figures obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) through an Freedom of Information request showed one library user received a three-month ban for stealing a library PC from the Hive in February 2022, with twelve users also being banned for the inappropriate use of library computers.
The council said the number of people banned is a small percentage of the thousands who use the library service each year, most of whom are respectful.
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council, which runs the county’s libraries, 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.”
A three-month ban was issued for theft of property from the Hive in January this year, while two other bans were issued to people for damaging library property at the city centre library in 2025.
Several bans have been given out for people smoking, vaping, drinking alcohol and using drugs on library premises, while a three-month ban was issued in January 2025 after a library user urinated in a bin at St John’s library.
The longest ban was six months, given for the use of intimidating behaviour towards staff and other library users at Kidderminster library in May 2024.