Why is it illegal in the UK to play KnockKnockGinger but legal in the rest of Europe?

[AviatorTom]

Map answers the question "Is KnockKnockGinger illegal?"

KnockKnockGinger is a game or prank where you ring someone's doorbell or knock on their door and then run away. Since 1829, it's illegal to do that in the UK, but there is no law against it in the rest of Europe.

Does anyone know why that is?

Updates

+1 y

To clarify... My source says that the Metropolitan Police Act 1854 has labelled it an offence to "willfully and wantonly disturb any inhabitant by pulling or ringing any doorbell or knocking at any door without lawful excuse."

[purplepoppy]

Sorry, you've been duped. There is no specific law against it in the UK. It would come under "disturbing the peace" or more specifically covered under the antisocial behaviour act, which is just an umbrella act for things like dropping litter, graffiti, peeing in an elevator etc type stuff.
The only time the police would be interested in the game is if it were being used to see if the resident was home before a burglary.

[AviatorTom]

@purplepoppy... My source says that the Metropolitan Police Act 1854 has labelled it an offence to "willfully and wantonly disturb any inhabitant by pulling or ringing any doorbell or knocking at any door without lawful excuse."

[purplepoppy]

Interesting. It sounds like someone went "there's no law against it, na, na na na..." so they wrote one. But i suspect it's been replaced with the more generic antisocial act now.

[AviatorTom]

@purplepoppy Considering all the things you post here, I'm guessing you know the law in the UK much better than I do. I would never argue with you. 🙉🙊🙈

[leighbee]

It isnot illegal over here lol just annoying 😂

[OlderAndWiser]

Not sure that's actually what the UK law says.

[NamerOfStars]

Did.. did something HAPPEN with the UK and that plant? I'm starting to get concerned...

[pepper1993]

Knock Knock GINGER? haha

[Bethany22]

Wow, I didn't know that!

[exitseven]

Too many people got shot.