Police firearms from across Queensland are being withdrawn from frontline duty and rushed into urgent testing after a dangerous fault was uncovered during routine inspections.
Urgent inspections underway
At a Gold Coast gun club, officers have been conducting urgent inspections, with gunshots ringing out as each weapon is tested for a potential burst-fire defect. The issue was first identified by an armourer in Wacol, who began testing ageing Glock pistols and discovered at least three weapons firing multiple rounds when the trigger was pulled and held, instead of a single controlled shot.
This discovery has triggered a sweeping response from the Queensland Police Service (QPS), with all 15,000 service-issued pistols now set to be examined.
Expert warns of severe consequences
Former AFP detective superintendent David Craig told 7NEWS: "Certainly any unintentional discharge is fraught with danger. If multi-rounds are shot out, someone could be injured beyond what was required to remove the threat, and that could be a diabolical result for the Queensland Police Service, the officer and the victim."
Officers at Brisbane City police station were among the first to hand in their weapons, with more than 70 firearms examined overnight. Each was cleared and returned to service. So far, the fault has only been detected under controlled testing conditions, not in real-world policing. But experts warn the potential consequences could be severe.
Risk of accidental discharge
Craig elaborated: "An officer could discharge one round and be re-holstering his weapon when it discharges again.. it could discharge into the ground, into the public or into the air, depending on the direction of the firearm of course."
It is understood some of the affected weapons were purchased more than 20 years ago, though the state government has not confirmed whether the ageing arsenal is a factor or if upgrades are overdue. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the priority was allowing testing to continue: "We need to let the testing take place. And those are operational matters."
Design fault suspected
Craig believes the issue may not be linked to age alone: "This appears to be a design fault rather than a wear and tear issue."
Officers have handed in their Glock pistols for urgent inspection. The development comes as other jurisdictions move to modernise their weapons. The New South Wales Police Force began replacing older Glock models in 2023.
"By May, all of the NSW police force will have converted over to a 9mm firearm," Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said. "I think they're a more accurate and reliable and economical firearm."
Potential national recall
There are now warnings the issue could extend beyond Queensland. "I'd be very surprised if it didn't broaden out to being a national recall of Glock models used by state and territory police," Craig said.
