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Police at all regional 24-hour stations across the state will soon be armed with tasers following a trial which began in Bendigo six years ago.
The trial began in 2010, where police in Bendigo and Morwell were the first to be trained to carry the stun guns. Officers in Traralgon and Moe followed in 2012 and police in Geelong, Corio and Ballarat started to carry tasers in 2013.
Related: Bendigo taser trial stays
Under the new regional rollout project, general duties and highway patrol officers have begun training to carry and use tasers, with members from Mildura the first to have access to the taser branded CED – Conducted Energy Devices – from this Wednesday, along with the pilot stations.
In total, police at 31 stations will have CEDs, with the rollout continuing until 2018.
Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said police would now have further non-lethal options for the resolution of incidents when dealing with violent people and those threatening self-harm.
“Unfortunately over recent years there has been an increase in the number of incidents where police have been confronted by armed and violent people and those who are drug or alcohol affected,” she said.
“These are often physical confrontations where police, members of the community and the individuals themselves are at risk of being injured.
“Once our officers are trained in their use, CEDs can provide an additional tactical option to help resolve some of these high risk incidents.
“They can only be used when it’s believed it will prevent death or serious injury. In many cases, the presentation of a CED alone can help to safely diffuse a situation.”
DC Steendam said officers were required to undertake a two-day course before being able to carry CEDs.
She said Victoria Police would continue to have strict accountability processes in place to monitor and record the use of CEDs, including video recording when one was presented and deployed.
Police are continuing a review of an incident in January in which a Long Gully man suffered head injuries after being tasered during an arrest in Strathdale.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said the review was standard practice for all taser incidents but could not comment on the matter further until the review had concluded.
Police have not offered a time frame for the review.
