Belfast , Northern Ireland ( CNN ) -- Petrol bombs , smoke canisters and hurled bricks have injured dozens of police during weeks of violence in Northern Ireland , officials said Sunday . At least 52 officers have been wounded since pro-British protests erupted in the Northern Ireland city of Belfast last month , police said . Authorities have arrested 70 people in connection with the violence . Tensions have been high since City Council members there voted a month ago to stop flying the Union Jack flag year-round , restricting it instead to certain days . Politicians , clergy and community leaders were meeting Sunday afternoon to discuss ways of ending the unrest . The meeting came a day after the Police Service of Northern Ireland said its officers deployed water cannons and fired plastic bullets Saturday night at a crowd of more than 100 demonstrators who were hurling fireworks and bricks at them . On Friday night , more than 30 petrol bombs were thrown at officers during serious disorder in the same part of the city . Officers were also pelted with ball bearings , fireworks and masonry , police said . Another officer was hurt Friday in the Newtownabbey area , police said , where bottles and bricks were thrown at police in the course of a protest lasting several hours . Northern Ireland 's political leaders have called for an end to the pro-British protests , which were prompted by the vote to limit display of the union flag of the United Kingdom . The disorder follows a summer of heightened tensions between Northern Ireland 's Catholic and Protestant communities . Riots in September left dozens of police officers hurt . The recent violence follows more than a decade during which Northern Ireland has made steady progress toward lasting peace and stability . On Sunday , the Police Service of Northern Ireland said officers were prepared for more violence . `` You may be assured there will be sufficient resources in the event of more disorder for however long is necessary , '' Chief Constable Matt Baggott said in a statement . `` The police service will continue to do everything possible to maintain law and order and we will deal firmly with outbreaks of violence . '' More : Policewoman targeted as tensions rise . More : Police -- Loyalist paramilitaries behind violence .
Politicians , clergy and community leaders meet to discuss ways to end the violence . Police say 52 officers have been wounded in weeks of violence . Protesters pelted officers with petrol bombs , fireworks and bricks , police say . Comment: