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An average of six police officers were assaulted every day last year - the highest number of attacks in 10 years.
And one of each of those six attacks was classified as serious, says the police annual report.
It says 2248 assaults on officers were reported in the
2006-2007 financial year - including 88 in which weapons were used.
That is a 17 per cent increase on 1998, when 1924 assaults were recorded.
The number of serious assaults rose almost 20 per cent over the year - from 331 to 393. Ten years ago, the same figure was 234.
Police Association president Greg O'Connor said last night police were dealing with an ever more volatile world.
Of the 88 assaults in which weapons were used, 31 involved firearms, 11 stabbing or cutting weapons and 46 other weapons.
The increase in assaults on police echoes the climb in overall violent crime, which increased 4 per cent in the past year.
Mr O'Connor blamed the rises on substance abuse.
"A lot of it has got to do with P - more people are on it, so more people are prepared to have a go [at police]. And there's much more booze around."
There were also more police on the streets and they had more interaction with the public, which "leads to a higher likelihood of assault and more opportunity for complaints".
National's police spokesman, Chester Borrows, said the increasing use of weapons was a growing threat to officers and underlined the need for Taser electrical stun-guns to be available for front-line officers.
A year-long test of the Tasers ended in August. A report on the pilot is expected in December, and a decision on their long-term use will be made in January.
Said Mr Borrows: "I would expect the report from the Taser trial to recommend the use of them. They're a fantastic tool that prevents people getting shot and injured."
The annual report also showed the number of complaints made against police officers rose by 21 per cent in the past year.
It said 2768 complaints were accepted for investigation, but the 8.7 per cent total of completed investigations upheld was less than the year before, when nearly 11 per cent were upheld.
A police survey showed 71 per cent of those surveyed said they had either full or quite a lot of trust and confidence in the police, up from 67 per cent two years ago.