THE easy accessibility of local politicians to the ordinary islander has always been something to be cherished in our island democracy.

Anyone with a policy point to make, a plea for help or a grievance against the system has little difficulty in finding an elected ear to bend.

Whether that is by calling across in the High Street, loitering outside the Royal Court House, picking up the telephone or going to a public meeting, the result is the same – genuine access to the people in power.

It is something the average UK elector can only wish for, especially when MPs spend so much of their time away in London.

In the last decade or so, access to States members has only improved.

Published contact details now include email addresses and many deputies take part in online discussion forums.

This was especially true in the lead-up to the elections last year.

Quite how good those States members are at actually listening to their electorate is another matter. (One long-term curmudgeon was well-known for keeping his publicly listed telephone in a cupboard where it rang fruitlessly, day or night).

Such open contact, however, comes with obligations on both sides.

Just as the parishioner who stops a deputy in the street should keep his or her tongue civil, no matter what the circumstance, so those conversing with States members on blogs or emails

must stay within the accepted bounds of our society and strive to divorce issues from personalities.

To stray further into personal abuse – or even threats – is wholly unacceptable, whatever the circumstance. Politicians must be free to live their lives and make their decisions free of unacceptable pressure.

That is especially true in our smaller society where threatening or abusive behaviour could place an intolerable burden on deputies who, while more than happy to engage in the cut and thrust of debate, have a right to operate free from intimidation.

Any attempt to threaten that must be condemned by all, whatever their political views.