UPDATED 2.55PM: A man charged with attacking a police officer in west Auckland has been denied bail.

21-year-old Joseph Vaoga-Emile has appeared in the Waitakere District Court charged with aggravated wounding and wounding with intent to injure after yesterday's incident in which the officer was knocked out as he was trying to make an arrest.

His lawyer, Clint Rickards, applied for bail on behalf of the father of one, but the Community Magistrate was not prepared to allow his release.

The arguments raised during the hearing can't be reported.

Vaoga-Emile cried when the Community Magistrate made her ruling, while family in the dock also wept.

He blew a kiss to them as he was led away to the cells.

Police yesterday said the officer was punched in the face by a man he'd pulled over and put under arrest for driving while suspended.

Inspector Steve Kose said it was a disgusting way to treat an officer.

"This is what I call a gutless and unprovoked assault on an officer who is simply doing their job."

"He has received nine stitches to his upper lip, plus he has had an X Ray with a dentist, and we believe he has possibly cracked the two main teeth roots."

The Police Association president Greg O'Connor voiced his frustration earlier today, claiming there were a whole generation of criminals who have grown up knowing police can't do much, if they have a go.

"We're talking about people, basically the boy racers, who knew full well that if they plant the boot, have a go, the would get away and generally it was a risk free occupation, unless of course they wrap themselves around a lamppost or someone else in the meantime."

"Since the end of the nine-nineties, [assaults have] gone up one-hundred percent, not general assaults but Crimes Act assaults. If you had the Commissioner or the Minister, they'd be saying assaults on police are going down."

"It's basically playing it down, and that's where we get our frustration."