In the UK this is known by a variety of names including:
- Knock down ginger
- Knock a door run
- Knock and run
- Ding dong ditch
- Knock knock ginger
It’s also the only place in Europe where this still technically remains a crime.
According to the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 Article 16 states:
Every person who shall wilfully and wantonly disturb any inhabitant by pulling or ringing any door-bell or knocking at any door without lawful excuse, or who shall wilfully and unlawfully extinguish the light of any lamp [shall be liable to a penalty].
It’s also interesting to see what other things were included on the list:
Prohibition of nuisances by persons in the thoroughfares.
Every person shall be liable to a penalty not more than [F1level 2 on the standard scale], who, within the limits of the metropolitan police district, shall in any thoroughfare or public place, commit any of the following offences; (that is to say,)
1.Every person who shall, to the annoyance of the inhabitants or passengers expose for show or sale (except in a market lawfully appointed for that purpose) or feed or fodder any horse or other animal, or show any caravan containing any animal or any other show or public entertainment, or shoe, bleed, or farry any horse or animal (except in cases of accident), or clean, dress, exercise, train, or break any horse or animal, or clean, make, or repair any part of any cart or carriage, except in cases of accident where repair on the spot is necessary:
2.Every person who shall turn loose any horse or cattle, or suffer to be at large any unmuzzled ferocious dog, or set on or urge any dog or other animal to attack, worry, or put in fear any person, horse, or other animal:
3.Every person who by negligence or ill-usage in driving cattle shall cause any mischief to be done by such cattle, or who shall in anywise misbehave himself in the driving, care, or management of such cattle, and also every person not being hired or employed to drive such cattle who shall wantonly and unlawfully pelt, drive, or hunt any such cattle:
4.Every person having the care of any cart or carriage who shall ride on any part thereof, on the shafts, or on any horse or other animal drawing the same, without having and holding the reins, or who shall be at such a distance from such cart or carriage as not to have the complete control over every horse or other animal drawing the same:
5.Every person who shall ride or drive furiously, or so as to endanger the life or limb of any person, or to the common danger of the passengers in any thoroughfare:
6.Every person who shall cause any cart, public carriage, sledge, truck, or barrow, with or without horses, to stand longer than may be necessary for loading or unloading or for taking up or setting down passengers, except hackney carriages standing for hire in any place not forbidden by law, or who, by means of any cart, carriage, sledge, truck, or barrow, or any horse or other animal, shall wilfully interrupt any public crossing, or wilfully cause any obstruction in any thoroughfare:
7.Every person who shall lead or ride any horse or other animal, or draw or drive any cart or carriage, sledge, truck, or barrow, upon any footway or curbstone, or fasten any horse or other animal so that it can stand across or upon any footway:
8.Every person who shall roll or carry any cask, tub, hoop, or wheel, or any ladder, plank, pole, showboard, or placard, upon any footway, except for the purpose of loading or unloading any cart or carriage, or of crossing the footway:
9.Every person who, after being made acquainted with the regulations or directions which the commissioners of police shall have made for regulating the route of horses, carts, carriages, and persons F2… for preventing obstructions during public processions and on other occasions herein-before specified, shall wilfully disregard or not conform himself thereunto:
10.Every person who, without the consent of the owner or occupier, shall affix any posting bill or other paper against or upon any building, wall, fence, or pale, or write upon, soil, deface, or mark any such building, wall, fence, or pale with chalk or paint, or in any other way whatsoever, F3… :
F411.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12.Every person who shall sell or distribute or offer for sale or distribution, or exhibit to public view, any profane, F5… book, paper, print, drawing, painting or representation, or sing any profane, indecent, or obscene song or ballad, F5…, or use any profane, indecent or obscene language to the annoyance of the inhabitants or passengers:
F613.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14.Every person, F7…, who shall blow any horn or use any other noisy instrument, for the purpose of calling persons together, or of announcing any show or entertainment, or for the purpose of hawking, selling, distributing, or collecting any article whatsoever, or of obtaining money or alms:
15.Every person who shall wantonly discharge any fire-arm or throw or discharge any stone or other missile, to the damage or danger of any person, or make any bonfire, or throw or set fire to any firework:
16.Every person who shall wilfully and wantonly disturb any inhabitant by pulling or ringing any door-bell or knocking at any door without lawful excuse, or who shall wilfully and unlawfully extinguish the light of any lamp:
17.Every person who shall fly any kite or play at any game to the annoyance of the inhabitants or passengers, or who shall make or use any slide upon ice or snow in any street or other thoroughfare, to the common danger of the passengers.
What do you think should it be illegal?
Frank Cranmer says
In the North-East – certainly in Sunderland when I was a kid – it was known as “knocky nine-doors”.
Leslie Ross says
Different Act applies outside London, and in Scotland would have to be a deliberate act of harassment targeting an individual for a protected characteristic – age, sex, race etc.