According to authorities, 41 occurrences involving election posters being damaged, removed, or destroyed have been reported in the last month.

Numerous candidates from a variety of political parties have had difficulties with election campaign material.

Police stated that they were thoroughly investigating all of the events.

Additionally, officers are investigating a Monday attack on SDLP Belfast South candidate Elsie Trainor as a hate crime.

Ms. Trainor, one of two SDLP candidates running in Belfast South, told the Belfast Telegraph that she pursued two youths after observing them remove her election posters.

Ms. Trainor stated that while she was following them, one of the kids assaulted her and the other attempted to steal her phone as she recorded them.

This is the latest in a string of election-related incidents.

Sinn Féin Upper Bann candidate John O’Dowd reported on Monday that his party’s posters had been stolen or destroyed in Portadown, County Armagh, as well as in Foyle, Newry, and Armagh, South Belfast, and North Belfast.

Additionally, there have been reports of posters for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Alliance Party, and Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) being destroyed or ripped down.

Ms. Trainor stated on Twitter that she pursued the males around Ormeau Park on Monday evening in order for police to determine which exit to use to pick them up.

“They assaulted me and after that tried to rob my phone,” she said.

“We need common ground politics here. We owe it to these thugs as much as to anyone else not to fail them.

“Polarisation is wrecking our present and future”.

She claimed to have been thrown against a fence and subjected to sectarian abuse.

According to Ch Supt Nigel Goddard, one of the suspects was approximately 18 years old, 5ft 8in tall, and clothed in a light grey jacket.

He described the other as being approximately the same age, 5ft 10in tall, and dressed in a dark grey jacket with the hood up, black-framed spectacles, and a face mask.

He urged anyone with information to contact the police, as well as anyone with dashcam or mobile phone evidence.

The 41 incidences of property damage reported to police occurred between 22 March and 11 April.

Ch Supt Godard also urged anyone who witnessed posters being stolen or destroyed to contact police immediately, noting that officers have offered candidates safety training.

“The Police Service of Northern Ireland is committed to doing everything we can to ensure all candidates can participate fully in the forthcoming Northern Ireland Assembly election free from harassment, intimidation, and other forms of criminality,” he said.

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