Ticket inspectors who spear tackled a teenage girl head first into the ground for fare evasion used "excessive force" in breach of the human rights charter, the Victorian Ombudsman has found.

The incident, captured on security cameras and the mobile phones of onlookers, showed the inspectors dropping the 15-year-old on her head.

She "was held face down and surrounded by three authorised officers for around eight-and-a-half minutes until police arrived," the ombudsman said.

The restraint method was described as a "body slam" or "spear tackle".

Other footage from the incident showed a different girl spitting in the face of another of the inspectors, who then put her in a headlock.

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The ombudsman's report, tabled in the Victorian Parliament, found the treatment of the girl was excessive, amounted to "degrading treatment" and was a breach of Victoria's Charter of Human Rights.

The girl, known as Youth A, told the ombudsman: "I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move. I was screaming, I was frightened, and it was a really traumatising experience."

Youth A told the ombudsman she suffered from ongoing back problems after the incident and required ongoing counselling.

Ticket inspector described body slam as 'bear hug'

Another officer who witnessed the incident told the ombudsman: "It was a controlled action, obviously one he [the officer] was very familiar with."

"He put her in a bear hug, picked her up, turned her sideways and then took her weight and his weight, took her to the ground and restrained her."

A Victoria Police officer who attended the scene told the ombudsman the force used was excessive after watching CCTV footage.

"To me it's probably a bit excessive. Yeah it's excessive," the officer said.

"Although there was no injury there was always the potential for injury to occur."

The ombudsman was also critical of the Department of Transport's response to the incident.

The department found the use of force was not excessive, but it did not interview any independent witnesses.

The incident came to light after Greens MP Greg Barber obtained CCTV footage of the arrest through a Freedom of Information request in December 2013.

Authorised officer training to be reviewed

The ombudsman recommended transferring the training, accreditation and authorisation of ticket inspectors from the department to Public Transport Victoria (PTV).

"I am pleased to accept the recommendations and believe that they will deliver improved training and support for authorised officers and a better outcome for public transport users," PTV chief executive Mark Wild said in a statement.

Mr Wild said PTV would review the training process for inspectors.

"We will report back to the ombudsman within 12 months," he said.