Qld cop hurt as accused peed then punched

A man accused of taking a sneaky leak on a Cairns street is in hot water after allegedly punching a police officer in the face.

Police say the 32-year-old lashed out when he was approached by a male officer while urinating on a fence and footpath in the city's CBD about 2am (AEST) on Monday.

He is accused of punching the officer in the face, cutting his mouth and injuring his knee.

The man will appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court this month charged with urinating in a public place and seriously assaulting an officer.