A curfew will be trialled for children under the age of 16 in Townsville, and welfare payments could be frozen for parents whose children are in detention, under a radical LNP plan to curb youth crime in the north Queensland city.

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls is outlining the dramatic pitch for law and order votes today as he hosts a crime forum in Townsville, in his first election foray outside the state's south east.

Mr Nicholls came armed with the LNP's $26 million north Queensland crime action plan.

"Whenever I come up here the people of Townsville say to me, when are you going to do something and what can you do about the increase in crime?" he said.

The LNP's plan includes $10 million over four years for a police helicopter to cover Townsville and Cairns, $8.6 million for 20 police officers in a rapid action patrol for Cairns, and community service for young offenders convicted of break and enter or car theft.

But Debbie Kilroy, from prisoner advocacy group Sisters Inside, branded the LNP's curfew plan discriminatory and said it would lead to more Indigenous children in detention.

Labor Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath also dismissed the announcement, saying similar community initiatives were already in place.

A 10:00pm curfew, to be tested for six months if the LNP wins the election on November 25, would be imposed on children 15 years old and younger, who would be taken by police to an emergency accommodation shelter until they could be taken safely home.

Youth crime, especially car theft, break-ins and vandalism, has been a major issue in Townsville in the lead-up to the election campaign.

"We will implement a six-month $1.3-million youth curfew strategy, named Operation Townsville Safe Streets to help residents get their community back," Mr Nicholls said.

"The shelter will be staffed with a counsellor and nurse to ensure the wellbeing of the child, while ensuring the community is protected.

"The Townsville community is crying out for action and leadership on this issue and is sick to death of these young criminals running amok with impunity.

"That is why we will also partner with the Commonwealth Government to ensure parents of a child in youth detention don't receive welfare payments they would normally receive while that child is behind bars."

Mr Nicholls said a curfew introduced by a WA Labor government in the Northbridge precinct is still in place 14 years later.

"The Northbridge example saw a dramatic drop in crime and a reduction in the anti-social behaviour of young people," he said.

"It is something we believe we can replicate in Townsville and if successful, roll out to other cities across the state dealing with youth crime epidemics."

A curfew has been in place in Perth's Northbridge precinct since 2003. ( ABC News )

'More Indigenous kids will be jailed'

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Ms D'Ath branded the LNP policy a "political stunt" and said it offered nothing new.

"Many of these community initiatives are already in place and in fact it's been the LNP and Tim Nicholls who's criticised any community-based solutions over the past three years," she said.

The proposed service made no sense when similar programs have had funding slashed under his government, Ms D'Ath said.

"You don't stop crime and youth offending by taking away those sorts of programs, like he did previously, like he's already flagged he would do again."

Ms Kilroy said the LNP plan would result in more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island children being criminalised.

"Because we know that the police and the Aboriginal community and children in particular do not have a good relationship," she said.

"So when the police are actually policing this policy for the LNP, the children will no doubt be charged with obstruct police, or assault police because they will try to get away from the police and run away because they're scared of the police.

"They will not then be taken to this so-called safe accommodation, they'll be taken directly to the watch house and charged with those offences and probably remanded in custody at the end of the day."

'We are not babysitters'

Police Union president Ian Leavers said the proposed trial was "welcome" to reduce crime and keep the community safe, but needed the support of the judiciary.

"No matter what work police do, if it's not backed up by the courts it will be very difficult for us," he said.

"We are not babysitters as police, we will need to work with and see what legislation comes in play, what policies are put into place.

"It has to be a careful balancing act because there are a lot of decent people who may be out and about who are not criminals who may be spoken to by police as a result."