QLD police officers have just a split second to react to dangers hiding in the dark

Queensland police officers are being trained to deal with dangerous offenders in the dark, using a new realistic training course aimed and teaching valuable lessons.

The training is aimed at overcoming controversy after Queensland police shot and killed four people in just a few months late last year.

The exercise is carried out blackout conditions at a specially adapted facility at the Oxley Police Academy.

Officers can only rely on their issued torches for light and are told to react to what they see around them, complete with real life role-play situations that force them to make split decision on when to fire and when to show restraint.

“The simplest job may sound simple but it could turn explosive,” Darren Carnes of the Queensland Police said.

“It’s the unknown out there. We're hoping to achieve a stress reaction to see how' they'd react in the real world.”

Officers are armed with real weapons that fire paint pellets at their targets.

“Short of using a live weapon and shooting a real person I can’t see how we can get our training more realistic,” Mr Carnes said.

Every recruit must undergo the training and the state’s entire 11,000-strong force must also go through the darkroom as part of their annual re-certification.

Officers who fail the test are forced to hand their weapon in immediately and are taken off patrols until they pass.