POLICE want the power to take their guns home while off-duty to protect their families, as fears mount they will be attacked in their houses by outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers has told Commissioner Ian Stewart officers should be able to "independently determine" if they take home police-issued Glocks after the State Government introduced tough anti-bike laws.



The move follows police intelligence that outlaw gang the Mongols are prepared to kill police to avoid arrest and are attempting to stockpile automatic weapons.

"These new laws imposed by the Newman Government put their existence at risk and there is real likelihood of resistance from them," Mr Leavers wrote in a letter obtained by The Courier-Mail.

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"That resistance could become violent and dangerous to police officers and their families either on duty or off."

He said police were being asked to "do the things no others want to do" in the war against bikies.

"There should no longer be a blanket denial for officers to take their service issue firearm home," Mr Leavers said.

"There is currently an exception for officers who commence duty from home however that exception must be expanded to include operational police where there is a reasonable prospect of risk to the safety of officer and/or their families because of the duties they perform".

Mr Stewart yesterday told The Courier-Mail it was "not just a simple matter" and police could already apply to take their guns home which was evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

He said there had been some terrible tragedies where family members had been killed as a result of gunshots from QPS weapons.

"My understanding is the union simply want a blanket decision for all officers to be able to have their weapons at home," Mr Stewart said.

"What I'm clearly saying is we have policies around this and we are happy to deal with any officer who feels the need to take their weapon home, particularly if it is around personal security."

The Courier-Mail yesterday revealed that the Commissioner had regained his qualification to carry and operate a Glock, for the first time in more than 10 years.

He said he made the decision so he could be comfortable in any situation and was considering whether to make gun training compulsory from "Constable to Commissioner".

Mr Stewart also revealed that police were considering a policy allowing district duty officers to carry high-powered semi-automatic Remington R4 carbine .223 rifles in their vehicles.

"We've got G20 on the horizon and post that we've got the Commonwealth Games," he said, explaining his reasons for gaining firearm accreditation.

"We've just had the issues with the criminal motorcycle gang members.

"The extra reason was also that should there be any credible threat to my safety, and at the moment I know of no such credible threat, I don't wish to be a burden on the service or other officers," he said.

"I just need to make sure that if I come in contact with any of these people … in my case I would certainly take all reasonable and necessary steps to use the tactics that we are trained to use and that's one of the reasons I was keen to do the operational skills and training."

In relation to the request to Mr Stewart, Mr Leavers said if policy was changed it should require the installation of a firearms safe at the officer's home, at their own expense, and the weapon should be concealed in situations when not in uniform such as when commuting.

Mr Leavers also requested police be issued protective body armour, which he first raised two weeks ago.

Mr Stewart said he was reviewing the need for body armour and would write back to the union to ask for further evidence.