After a three-and-a half year wait, police are finally paying $5,000 compensation to two children who saw their father ‘illegally tasered’ and pepper sprayed in front of them.

The incident, which happened in Timaru in December 2011, was condemned by the Independent Police Complaints Authority as being tasering with excessive force, especially in front of the children who were aged 11 and 12 at the time.

The deal will see $5,000 paid directly to the children who are now teenagers. Any counselling they need will be paid for by police and Troy Reuben’s legal costs are also covered.

Mr Reuben, the children’s father, has welcomed the compensation.

"Kids, you know, they come first and that’s what I fought for. I’m stoked. It was never about me, it’s always been about the two kids."

His Lawyer, Jay Lovely, says he can’t fault the police investigation process, but "I just wish they’d taken a little less time given the fact we had kids who are getting older".

Now Mr Reuben is pushing for a law change on deploying tasers in front of children.

"It needs to be an absolute last resort.

"We have no idea the effect the deployment of tasers on a parent in front of a child can be," Mr Lovely says.