# signature police knock **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2013, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248 "2013-06-30T06:46:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/1 "2013-06-30T06:46:20Z")
I heard a guy on the bus talking about “the police knock”. Apparently, a knock pattern/rhythm that’s frequently used by police (and rarely by anybody else). Is there any truth to this? It sounds unlikely and the source isn’t very credible (he was a little whatever-euphemism-you-prefer-for-mentally-handicapped). ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/2 "2013-06-30T08:12:44Z")
We used to call any sudden, very loud knocking a ‘police knock’. If someone came to visit, and startled us with a loud banging, we would admonish them, “Don’t be coming over here knocking like the police!” But as far as a specific beat…I never heard of that one. ---
**Author:** ![the\_O](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@the\_O](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_O)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/3 "2013-06-30T08:14:12Z")
Oh hell yes. Rap hard and sharply without identifying yourself. I once awoke someone on a Saturday morning to install Windows '98 on their puter. Even hungover, he answered the door. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/4 "2013-06-30T08:17:56Z")
Shave and a haircut? ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/5 "2013-06-30T09:05:43Z")
The English police, being part of a quiet, civilized and gentile society, will effect their own ingress rather than bothering you with having to answer a troublesome knock at the door. They do so using what they commonly refer to as the [Big Red Key.](http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/resources/images/1926763.jpg?type=articleLandscape) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/6 "2013-06-30T10:34:24Z")
I live in the UK. After I phoned the police to report a possible criminal, I had two visits from them. The first was to get a description of the suspect; the second to let me know they had arrested him. Both times they knocked like anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/7 "2013-06-30T10:44:42Z")
> [@glee](#): > > I live in the UK. > After I phoned the police to report a possible criminal, I had two visits from them. > Both times they knocked like anyone else. I thnk the OP is asking about the opposite situation: how the police knock when they have a warrant and are planning to come on in RIGHT NOW, whether you want 'em to or not. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/8 "2013-06-30T12:20:41Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > The English police, being part of a quiet, civilized and gentile society, will effect their own ingress rather than bothering you with having to answer a troublesome knock at the door. > > They do so using what they commonly refer to as the [Big Red Key.](http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/resources/images/1926763.jpg?type=articleLandscape) I have a front door that looks like that one - if it is the same, that BRK is going to have to do some work. When properly bolted, there are 3 heavy bolts across the handle side of the frame, and the 3 hinges are heavy-duty. I suspect the bending of frame before the lock breaks. The back door would be a different matter, however. Mine was installed by a former occupant, a security-minded police officer. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/9 "2013-06-30T12:27:49Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > The English police, being part of a quiet, civilized and gentile society… I’m pretty sure there are quite a few Jews in the UK too. ---
**Author:** ![SpyOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SpyOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpyOne)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/10 "2013-06-30T12:46:01Z")
I have found that even when the police just want to ask a few polite questions, or inform you that somebody ran over your mailbox, they knock with the same vigor that you’d expect from a fireman who wanted to inform you your house was on fire. It sounds very like the knock of someone whose next step is to kick in the door. Three rapid beats, BAM BAM BAM! I have no idea how they make that sound. It certainly isn’t rapping with a knuckle, and is louder than when I pound the door with a fist. On the opposite end of the spectrum, UPS drivers seem to have mastered the ninja art of silent knocking: I was sitting by a window 8 feet from the door. I heard the truck stop, heard him get out of the truck, heard him get back in it (feet on the metal step), and then heard it drive away. I did **not** hear him knock, although he claims he did. ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/11 "2013-06-30T12:57:11Z")
I use the same knock. And am often told I knock like the Cops. The main reason is to ensure that you are heard. You can stand outside all day tapping. Me. I’m gonna knock like I want you to answer. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/12 "2013-06-30T14:00:07Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > The English police, being part of a quiet, civilized and gentile society… > [@Shakester](#): > > I’m pretty sure there are quite a few Jews in the UK too. Oh bollocks! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/13 "2013-06-30T16:20:32Z")
> [@SpyOne](#): > > I have no idea how they make that sound. It certainly isn’t rapping with a knuckle, and is louder than when I pound the door with a fist. I’ve seen them knock with their mag lites. (Large flashlights). ---
**Author:** ![FoundWaldo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@FoundWaldo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoundWaldo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/14 "2013-06-30T16:43:07Z")
> [@the\_O](#): > > Oh hell yes. Rap hard and sharply **without identifying yourself**. As opposed to your friends, who shout out their names as they knock? ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/15 "2013-06-30T16:47:04Z")
> [@Glazer](#): > > I use the same knock. And am often told I knock like the Cops. The main reason is to ensure that you are heard. You can stand outside all day tapping. Me. I’m gonna knock like I want you to answer. When I was delivering pizzas back in the day, I quickly learned to knock like I meant it. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/16 "2013-06-30T17:39:46Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > I thnk the OP is asking about the opposite situation: how the police knock when they have a warrant and are planning to come on in RIGHT NOW, whether you want 'em to or not. No, the police in the U.S. knock like that all the time. They can be coming over to warn you about a spate of robberies in the area, and they will still knock like that. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/17 "2013-07-01T01:27:12Z")
The police are expecting people to answer the door when they knock, so they do knock with authority. It is usually done with a quick rat-tat-tat of the end of 4 cell Maglite. I have to knock on people’s doors several times a day as well and have adopted a similar strategy of assertively knocking with a hand-held forehead thermometer. It is quite effective, ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/18 "2013-07-01T01:38:56Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Shave and a haircut? Can’t fail in Toontown. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/19 "2013-07-01T01:39:02Z")
Where I went to school a “cop knock” was 4 very hard knocks using the butt end of your closed fist. BAM BAM BAM BAM. Scared the piss out of people inside. It was considered pretty rude to do it, but a lot of people would do it as a joke when they knew they knew all their friends were inside (the dorm) smoking weed. Suddenly everyone is scrambling to hide everything and air the place out (like that’s possible it 10 seconds). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248/20 "2013-07-01T02:48:14Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Both times they knocked like anyone else. Scheming, conniving bastards! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-police-knock/662248.md?page=2)