Tis the Season to be Jolly.

Some of the laws below are truly archaic, but we’re using their existence to celebrate the history of our much envied legal system, with a liberal dose of humour and fun with regards to Xmas.

Under the Metropolitan Police Act 1839, it is illegal for the ‘keeper of a public house to permit drunkenness on premises’ – which seems like rather a tall order during the run up to Xmas.

As of 2004, ‘no person shall import into England potatoes which he knows to be or has reasonable cause to suspect to be Polish potatoes’ so peoples do check before your roast your tatties on Xmas day.

For those of you going for the fish/salmon option we’d like to remind you that as recently as 1986 under the Salmon Act, to ‘handle a salmon in suspicious circumstances’ – which leaves a lot of room for interpretation. So keep an eye on the cook while preparing lunch on Xmas day.

Again under the Metropolitan Police Act 1839, to sing any profane or obscene song or ballad in any street, or to ‘willfully and wantonly’ disturb people by ringing their doorbells or knocking at their doors – would this stretch as far as having the in-laws done? We don’t know but we’ll give it a try this Xmas 🙂

Finally if you’ve going/gone away this Xmas there is a provision of the 2005 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act which makes it an offence to activate your burglar alarm without first nominating a “key-holder” who can switch it off in your absence. Hope you / you’ve remembered.

Have a wonderful Xmas and if you want to know where Santa is

see: Follow Santa

Shepwayvox