Mal Fletcher comments on how the British public treat high profile figures.

Attacks on social media are obviously not of the same order as physical attacks. Words do, however, wound and the abundance of simmering verbal acid in the cybersphere increases the likelihood of a boil-over into violent expression.

Knee-jerk attacks, verbal or otherwise, on the political classes or individual MPs also create in us a victim mentality.

Yes, there are very real victims in our society - I've met more than a few in my time and have often come away both grieved by their experiences and moved by their courage in speaking out.

These are the people who deserve our greatest attention and care. However, that attention is sometimes lavished on relatively undamaged individuals who want to see anything short of a total public affirmation of their beliefs or ideals as downright persecution.

Bias and persecution are not always the same thing. To mistake one for the other is to rob genuine victims of the care they deserve and to make all the world one's enemy. We should not allow a victim mindset to become some kind of default in our culture; it might prevent us from seeing when we ourselves are victimising others.

The same media sources that announced Ms Cox's death also carried the news that a police investigation into sex abuse by Sir Cliff Richard had been closed down.

To Sir Cliff's understandable chagrin, the police did not declare him innocent. They merely stated that there was insufficient evidence of wrongdoing for them to proceed. This after they had gone out of their way to make a case against him in the court of public opinion. It began with a raid on his home, which he learned about only by watching it live on BBC TV.

During happier times for Mr Richard, he was the focus of aspiration for millions of Brits. Among those who might not like his music were many who appreciated his charity work - for which he was awarded his knighthood.

In more recent times, though, the pop singer was seen by many only through the prism of potential sex abuser. He was not considered innocent until proven guilty. Far from it.

In the end, it might be argued that it was public adulation for Sir Cliff Richard that helped to foster his public excoriation.

A regional police force, which was already leaking public confidence as a result of its mishandling of other matters, decided to steal back a little public respect. It should have been investigating, methodically and quietly, serious criminal allegations. Instead, it took a high profile individual, previously above reproach, and started a PR campaign against him.

No suspect should be publicly named before concrete, actionable charges have been laid against him or her. An accused person has the right to confront his or her accusers, with the opportunity to offer a defence. Innuendo is not evidence and trial by media does not allow for a properly constructed legal defence.

Though Cliff Richard's story has ended more happily than that of Jo Cox, he has also paid a high price simply for living in the public eye. In many minds, his name will forever be linked to unproven claims about abuse.

When we revere people in public life too highly, we set them and ourselves up for a fall. When we constantly excoriate people in public life, taking cheap shots on social or other media, we unwittingly transform ourselves into victims.

When we take this a step further and physically attack high profile individuals, we dehumanise ourselves and defile a culture of fairness.

If we project our fears too readily onto public figures, we reduce the number of good people wanting to serve. It's a price too high.