The PSNI and Electoral Commission have published a guide for candidates standing in May's council elections who face harassment, intimidation and abuse.
The document, 'Joint Guidance for Candidates in Elections - When it Goes Too Far', was also developed with the assistance of the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland and the Public Prosecution Service.
It aims to give candidates in the poll on May 18 advice on how to protect themselves and others while canvassing and online.
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Concerns over threats and intimidation were raised during last year's Stormont Assembly election campaign.
Some election candidates reported their posters being stolen or burnt down.
A window was smashed at UUP leader Doug Beattie's constituency office in Portadown within hours of his decision to withdraw from contentious rallies against Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.
An SDLP candidate in West Belfast said he and his team were approached by a group of men in the Shankill area and told they "weren't welcome".
The 10-page guide describes how female candidates in particular "may suffer a disproportionate level of unacceptable behaviour including online abuse and harassment".
"This can cause candidates to question whether they have made the right decision to participate and engage in public life," it added.
Cahir Hughes, head of the Electoral Commission in Northern Ireland, said: "Whilst the democratic process encourages discussion and challenge the increasing emergence of abuse, intimidation and harassment of candidates, particularly online, is totally unacceptable.
"This guide aims to support candidates and provide them with information on how to protect themselves and co-workers, what might constitute a criminal offence and when to report to police."
Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton, the PSNI's lead on elections, said it was "totally unacceptable" for candidates to face any harassment or abuse.
He said: "This is an important guide for candidates which gives them crucial information on staying safe, steps they can take to prevent physical and online abuse, how the Police Service can support them and when to report an incident to police.
"Any electoral process will have a broad range of views, and generate debate, but it is totally unacceptable when election candidates become the subject of violence, abuse, intimidation or harassment."
The guide is available online on the PSNI, Electoral Commission, Electoral Office and Public Prosecution Service websites.
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