People banned from Brighton libraries for drug use and other reasons

The data, released following a Freedom of Information request (FOI) submitted by The Argus, reveals that 42 people were barred from libraries in Brighton and Hove between April 2023 and June 2024.

Brighton and Hove City Council said it does not hold data prior to last April.

In that period, eight people were barred from Jubilee Library in Jubilee Street for theft, while four were banned for the use of drugs.

On April 9 this year, someone was banned from Jubilee for “persistently sleeping” in the library.

Seven visitors are forbidden from visiting the city’s libraries for abusive language – six at Jubilee and one at Hove.

Hove Library

The vast majority of bans, 38, were issued at the Jubilee Library, with just four in total at Portslade, Moulsecoomb and Hove.

This February 25, someone was banned from Jubilee for assault outside the venue.

Meanwhile, last May a person was barred from the same place for “inappropriate use of library card”. The council did not explain what this “inappropriate use” was.

The Jubilee Library is in the centre of the city

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Staff working at our libraries and residents and visitors using our facilities have a right to do so in a safe and welcoming environment and as such we do not tolerate any behaviour which we consider to be abusive, violent, or disruptive.

“We also have a strict approach to alcohol or substance use in all council buildings and anyone found to be taking drugs or drinking alcohol in one of our libraries will be asked to leave and likely face an exclusion.

“Libraries are an important community resource and a treasured part of our city. Our 13 libraries are visited more than one million times each year and the overwhelming majority of visitors treat the facilities and their fellow library users with respect.”