Shepparton will be among the first police stations to receive new tasers that activate an officer’s body-worn camera when drawn.
The new conducted energy devices — to be provided to more than 10,300 police and protective services officers over three years — will activate the officer’s body-worn camera, capturing a record of what has occurred.
The footage will include what happened in the 30 seconds beforehand.
The tasers will be rolled out to frontline police from November, with the Special Operations Group, Critical Incident Response Team and police at 36 regional stations the first to get the new devices, which replace existing units issued up to five years ago.
Shepparton will be included in wave one of the rollout between late November 2023 and March 2024.
Echuca, Seymour, Benalla and Wangaratta will also be among the regional stations included in the first wave.
The rollout to remaining police and all PSOs will begin in April next year and run until September 2026.
Victoria Police has entered into an agreement with US-based supplier Axon to provide its Taser 7 model, which offers improved technology, accuracy and safety.
Victoria Police will establish special training venues to teach officers how to safely handle a taser and upskill those already equipped with them.
The sessions will cover Victoria Police’s strict protocols on when a taser can and can’t be used and processes that must be followed if they’re drawn or discharged.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said the announcement was a significant milestone in the rollout of tasers to police.
“Frontline policing can be dangerous and unpredictable, and these devices give our officers another option when dealing with high-risk, volatile situations,” he said.
“Often just drawing one is enough to bring an incident to a safe resolution.
“Our specialist police have been using tasers for almost 20 years, and the public should have confidence there is stringent oversight of when and how they can be used.
“Linking the latest generation devices with an officer’s body-worn camera also means there is an independent record when a taser is drawn or discharged.”