The police union ACP has called for better equipment for riot police after serious disturbances in The Hague at the weekend, saying current resources leave them at risk of having to use live firearms.

“Colleagues were deliberately attacked and attempts were made to isolate them and cause serious injury,” ACP board member Patrick Fluyt told the Telegraaf. “It is only thanks to the professionalism of the riot police that shots were not fired.”

The riot police are drawn from the regular police force and are deployed at large events, demonstrations and football matches to maintain order. At present, they are equipped with long batons but otherwise must rely on their sidearms if violence escalates.

The union wants an intermediate weapon that can stop attackers at a distance, such as so-called beanbag rounds that inflict heavy pain without permanent injury. These are currently restricted to specialist arrest teams.

Pepper spray and tasers, Fluyt said, are unsuitable in large-scale confrontations because they can be used to disable officers or leave them exposed to further attacks.

At least 37 people were arrested during the clashes in The Hague on Saturday, with 27 due to appear in court on Tuesday. Four police officers and seven journalists were injured, and police said more arrests are expected.

The violence erupted at an anti-immigration protest on the Malieveld, organised by 26-year-old activist Els Noort, who presents herself online as “Els Rechts.”

Police used water cannon and tear gas to break up the group, who set fire to a police car, attacked the offices of political party D66, and attempted to storm the parliamentary complex which is currently closed for renovations.