The forthcoming Assembly election is arguably the most important since the Good Friday Agreement and it is vital that a full and a frank public debate takes place on all the key issues at stake.
What is not acceptable is that representatives from any party are harassed or obstructed as they legitimately set out to get their message across in the run up to polling day three weeks from now.
Verbal exchanges are far from unknown during the hustings, and, as long as they are kept at reasonable levels, may even be regarded as part of the cut and thrust of campaigning.
However, there have been a number of recent examples of blatant intimidation, with the most serious involving a physical attack on an SDLP candidate in South Belfast, Elsie Trainor, which police are rightly treating as a hate crime.
Ms Trainor was assaulted by one youth, and another tried to grab her mobile phone, when she found them pulling down her posters.
All the main parties have reported the destruction of election material, in some cases by masked individuals, and there will be concerns that deliberate attempts are being made to escalate tensions.
It is essential that those who use threats or violence in a direct challenge to the democratic process are swiftly brought before the courts.
