diff --git a/blocking.py b/blocking.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..87e2888bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/blocking.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+__filename__ = "blocking.py"
+__author__ = "Bob Mottram"
+__license__ = "AGPL3+"
+__version__ = "0.0.1"
+__maintainer__ = "Bob Mottram"
+__email__ = "bob@freedombone.net"
+__status__ = "Production"
+
+import os
+
+def addBlock(baseDir: str,nickname: str,domain: str, \
+             blockNickname: str,blockDomain: str) -> None:
+    """Block the given account
+    """
+    blockingFilename=baseDir+'/accounts/'+nickname+'@'+domain+'/blocking.txt'
+    blockHandle=blockNickName+'@'+blockDomain
+    if os.path.isfile(blockingFilename):
+        if blockHandle in open(blockingFilename).read():
+            return
+    blockFile=open(blockingFilename, "a+")
+    blockFile.write(blockHandle+'\n')
+    blockFile.close()
+
+def removeBlock(baseDir: str,nickname: str,domain: str, \
+                unblockNickname: str,unblockDomain: str) -> None:
+    """Unblock the given account
+    """
+    unblockingFilename=baseDir+'/accounts/'+nickname+'@'+domain+'/blocking.txt'
+    unblockHandle=unblockNickName+'@'+unblockDomain
+    if os.path.isfile(unblockingFilename):
+        if unblockHandle in open(unblockingFilename).read():
+            with open(unblockingFilename, 'r') as fp:
+                with open(unblockingFilename+'.new', 'w') as fpnew:
+                    for line in fp:
+                        handle=line.replace('\n','')
+                        if unblockHandle not in line:
+                            fpnew.write(handle+'\n')
+            if os.path.isfile(unblockingFilename+'.new'):
+                os.rename(unblockingFilename+'.new',unblockingFilename)
+                    
+def isBlocked(baseDir: str,nickname: str,domain: str, \
+              blockNickname: str,blockDomain: str) -> bool:
+    """Is the given nickname blocked?
+    """
+    blockingFilename=baseDir+'/accounts/'+nickname+'@'+domain+'/blocking.txt'
+    blockHandle=blockNickName+'@'+blockDomain
+    if os.path.isfile(blockingFilename):
+        if blockHandle in open(blockingFilename).read():
+            return True
+    return False
+