NEARLY three attacks a day are being carried out on the region's police officers, figures reveal.

New findings show that 992 incidents were recorded last year, a 30 per cent rise on the previous 12 months.

The figures, compiled by the Police Review magazine, show a huge year-on-year leap in the number of assaults on police in the Northumbria force, where the number of attacks rose from 39 in 2003/4 to 240 last year.

North Yorkshire had the highest number of assaults - 342 - compared to 273 in 2003/4.

Across the UK, almost 60 police officers were assaulted each day last year, according to the survey.

There were 21,845 assaults on officers in 51 police forces across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, or one every 24 minutes.

The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, described the figures as "horrendous".

Two-thirds of all forces saw a rise in attacks year-on-year, including Cleveland, where 11 more assaults were committed.

Only Durham Police in the region bucked the trend, showing a drop from 218 to 183, a fall of 16 per cent.

Deputy Chief Constable David Warcup, of Northumbria Police, said attacks happened "all too often".

A spokesman for North Yorkshire police said: "It is a worry, but we have to accept that policing is a dangerous occupation that often brings officers into conflict with members of the public. That is why we try to ensure that all our officers are trained and equipped to deal with every situation they find themselves in."

Sergeant Chris Pendlington, of the police federation in Cleveland, called for tougher penalties from the courts for attackers.

"Custody should be the first consideration and the penalties from the courts should be severe," he said.