Amnesty International Australia welcomes news that the Victorian police will retain only limited use of stun guns, rather distributing the weapons to all frontline officers.

The announcement was made by the new Victorian police commissioner, Simon Overland, on April 21.

The news comes days after a 39-year-old man died in the Northern Territory following an incident during which a stun gun was deployed.

The Northern Territory police say they were called to respond to a domestic disturbance on the night of 16 April. Police say capsicum spray and a stun gun were used to subdue the man and that he died later at an Alice Springs hospital.

Amnesty International notes the fact that the incident will be investigated by police from the Major Crime Division on behalf of the Northern Territory Coroner and that the investigation will be overseen by the Ethical and Professional Standards Command.

Amnesty International has strongly stated its concerns about the safety of stun guns and is concerned that the weapons are being used as a routine force tool rather than a measure of last resort.

The organisation believes the use of stun guns by Australian law-enforcement officials should be limited to appropriately-trained officers, and to life threatening situations, or suspended until a thorough, impartial and independent investigation into the medical and other effects of the weapons is concluded.