Provocation Acts: Do Public Figures Live on a differnet Planet?

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Act of provocation
We all get provoked by other people at one point or another. The manner in which we respond to this can depend on a number of factors including our relationship with the offenders. We will be less inclined for example to react negatively to an act of provocation from a close relative, friend, or colleagues than from a complete stranger. However, when it comes to public figures there is the tendency to feel that under no circumstances should public figures react negatively to acts of provocation.


The most recent case illustrating this view that public figures should keep their cool under all kinds of provocation is relating to that of Mr Alan Pardew. Mr Pardew is the Manager of Newcastle United. Last Sunday he headbutt the Hull City midfielder David Meyler. He defended this action by claiming that the player had pushed him repeatedly prior to the attack. Despite this defence, Newcastle United club fined Mr Pardew £100,000 for the offence. The Football Association has also charged Mr Pardew with the act of misconduct. Mr Pardew might get a lengthy touchline ban at the end of this trial. Does it mean that he should have walked away from the football pitch to stop the provocation?

Prior to Mr Pardew’s case, Mr Rohan Scarlett, a Metropolitan Police Officer, was found guilty for assaulting a suspect. Mr Scarlet punched the suspect in the face after he had spat at a close range in to the officer’s mouth. He was charged with the offence of assaulting a suspect. Mr Scarlet defended his behaviour by claiming that he was acting in self-defence. The magistrate court rejected this defence and found him guilty of the charge. The Metropolitan Police has also suspended the officer over the behaviour. Do you think that this punishment fits the crime? If you were in a similar circumstance to that of Mr Rohan could you have done things differently? Could you have swallowed the saliva with blood and kept calm?

Whereas Mr Pardew and Mr Scarlett were unfortunate to receive harsh punishment for their misconduct, Mr John Prescott, the former deputy British Prime Minister, was lucky to get away with his reaction to an act of provocation from a stranger. Mr Prescott was pelted with egg by a stranger as the Deputy Prime Minister was campaigning for the labour party in Wales. He punched the protester in the face in retaliation. He justified this action using self defence. The police accepted this defense and did not bring any charges against him. Although he was not punished for the act, Mr. Prescott was castigated by the vast majority of the public who had heard the story.

Some of them argued that Mr Prescott should have been prosecuted for the assault. Others wanted him resign as he could not control his anger under stress. To a certain extent these critics are right. If it was a deputy head teacher of a school who was pelted with eggs by his or her pupil that had acted in the same manner as Mr Prescott, he or she would be punished severely. He or she would lose his or her job. In addition, the deputy head teacher would be charged with assault and if found guilty, banned for life from working at school.

Having said these, how many of us in a similar circumstance to that of the deputy Prime minister could act differently? Do we feel that public figures are super-humans? Should they remain calm under all kinds of provocation?

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