Disorderly behaviour is the main reason for which people are banned from libraries across Wiltshire, a freedom of information request has revealed.

The data received from Wiltshire Council shows that there have been 14 incidents which have escalated to the point of someone being banned from one of the county’s libraries since 2021.

10 of these incidents involved disorderly behaviour, ranging from the individuals in question being intoxicated to abusive.

(Image: Newsquest)

Also reported were four accounts of inappropriate behaviour.

These inappropriate incidents included one case of harassment, as well as another during which someone accessed “inappropriate websites on library computers.”

The latter occurred in Devizes library, with the most frequent location for bans being Salisbury (five), Trowbridge (three) and Chippenham (three).

The detail of the bans’ locations was provided as follows:

2021:

  • Trowbridge: abusive/disorderly behaviour

2022:

  • Marlborough/Pewsey: inappropriate behaviour – harassment
  • Salisbury: abusive/disorderly behaviour
  • Salisbury: abusive/disorderly behaviour

2023

  • Chippenham: disorderly behaviour/intoxicated
  • Chippenham: disorderly behaviour/intoxicated
  • Salisbury: abusive/disorderly behaviour
  • Trowbridge: abusive/disorderly behaviour
  • Devizes: accessing inappropriate websites on library computers
  • Salisbury: inappropriate behaviour
  • Salisbury: abusive/disorderly behaviour

2024:

  • Devizes: abusive/disorderly behaviour
  • Chippenham: disorderly behaviour/intoxicated
  • Trowbridge: inappropriate behaviour

According to the council, these bans have varied in length.

There are more than 30 libraries across Wiltshire, where people have access to books, Wi-Fi, pubic computers and printing facilities.