Queensland police have recalled all 15,000 service-issued Glock handguns after a fault was discovered during routine testing that could cause the weapon to fire multiple shots when discharged. The .40-calibre Glock is the standard-issue sidearm for Queensland Police Service (QPS) officers.
Deputy Police Commissioner Chris Stream said the fault had been found in three older-model weapons during a new testing regime, but the cause remains unknown. He acknowledged an “unknown risk” that a faulty Glock could malfunction in the field, but stressed the issue would only arise “if the weapon is used”. “If an officer had to use a weapon currently and discharge that weapon, there is an unknown risk currently, in terms of the weapon – an untested weapon, I should say – discharging multiple rounds,” he said.
The weapons will remain in service until tested, with Stream noting there is no wider threat to the community or officer safety. The Glock has been in use since 1999, and Stream said it was possible the fault had occurred in the field during its two-decade service history.
Police Minister Dan Purdie called the findings “concerning” and demanded answers from the QPS. Police union president Shane Prior said the issue was raised during routine maintenance of returned Glocks, and that holding the trigger down caused multiple bullets to fire, which “should not occur in a semi-automatic weapon”. He called for a full replacement if the problem proves widespread, noting most Glocks are over 20 years old, bought between 1999 and 2003.
Testing will be conducted across all regions, with compliant weapons returned to service and defective ones replaced. Stream said it was unknown how long repairs would take or how much they would cost. Officers will receive instructional videos about the fault. The QPS continues to buy Glocks, taking delivery of new weapons last year, and is working with suppliers to rectify the issue.
