■ Repeatedly stunned a man who presented no threat, leading to an investigation by the NSW Ombudsman and police. Freedom-of-information documents obtained by The Age show the abuses in the trial by senior NSW police in the 12 months to October. Victoria Police Superintendent Mick Williams said police had reviewed the NSW trials, and the NSW Ombudsman's report, before issuing Tasers to 150 general duty and traffic police in Bendigo and Morwell as part of a 12-month trial that began at the weekend. Previously, only the critical incident response team and the special operations group had used Tasers. Victoria Police had also reviewed reports and research of Taser use by Queensland and West Australian Police and international agencies.

''We know that Taser use is a complex issue and after careful consideration we have made a decision which we believe is in the best interests of the community and Victoria Police members,'' Superintendent Williams said. Over the 12 months of the NSW trial the Taser was drawn from its holster 397 times and fired one in three times. NSW police had restricted its use to specialist squads, and had promised strong accountability, including having cameras mounted on its stock. NSW police did not believe that incidents of misuse were indicative of a troubled trial, and described it as broadly successful. Of the 8000 NSW police officers trained to use Tasers, 26 have been disciplined for breaching procedures.

The NSW Ombudsman received 14 complaints regarding improper use. Bendigo and Morwell were chosen for the trial of 30 Tasers, which have been fitted with video and audio recorders, because of a high number of critical incidents involving the use of police force. Only one police officer will carry a Taser, and his partner will use a firearm as a last resort. In NSW, documents reveal a trend of police using the Taser first rather than as a last resort. In one case, a sergeant drew his Taser after encountering two young men spray painting under a bridge.

Superintendent Williams said Victoria Police maintained the Taser was only to be used to prevent death and serious injury in highly volatile incidents. ''They should not be used for compliance purposes and instead as a last option before police resort to a firearm,'' he said. There is no indication that Victoria Police is considering a statewide rollout. Police will conduct an interim evaluation of the trial in January and a final assessment in June.