A growing number of police officers have had enough of the way they become targets during the New Year festivities and are accusing the government of failing to act to end the chaos, the AD reported on Monday afternoon. They also want an immediate ban on consumer fireworks.

The claim is made in an internal police memo and gives “an in-depth view of the frustration and desperation within the police force,” the paper said.

During the New Year celebrations, police and emergency service workers came under attack in a number of towns and villages, and over 200 people were arrested. In Amsterdam, riot police fired warning shots and in Culemborg they used teargas to break up the mobs.

There are similar incidents every year and this is making both police officers and their families fear for their safety, the memo said, adding that “there is a systematic lack of respect and appreciation for emergency service workers.”

The memo calls for a nationwide ban on consumer fireworks and more serious punishments for people who attack the police and fire brigade. “Many police officers feel the current strategy of talking tough and doing little is far from enough,” the paper said.

The memo criticises “pointless political statements” such as “it is unacceptable to use violence against health service workers,” and calls on politicians to take action. It also suggests that the ruling parties are scared to call for a firework ban because they fear it will cost them votes.

Prime minister Dick Schoof has already said the right-wing government has no plans to introduce a nationwide ban.

Justice minister David van Weel said on January 1 that the targeting of emergency service workers is “extremely sad”.

“This behaviour should never be seen as normal and we are going to do all we can to arrest those responsible,” he said on social media.

Nine Kooiman, chairman of the main Dutch police union Nederlandse Politiebond, told the AD that the violence gets worse every year. “Police officers are asking themselves if this is what they want. They are being pelted with explosives and feel they are working in a war zone,” she said.

Support for a ban

Calls have been mounting for a total ban on consumer fireworks in recent years. While Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and 16 other places have introduced their own bans, fireworks are still legally on sale and the ban is largely ignored.

A survey by Ipsos last month revealed that 57% of the population would vote in favour of a ban in a referendum. Some 60% of people taking part in the RTL panel said they backed a ban, as did 64% of people taking part in an EenVandaag survey.