Indigenous elders in the Queensland town of Cherbourg are calling for tougher bail conditions and for offenders to be banished from the town, but others in the community disagree.

Key points: Members of Cherbourg's Barambah Local Justice Group wrote to the local magistrate requesting tougher bail conditions and alleged offenders be banished from town

Members of Cherbourg's Barambah Local Justice Group wrote to the local magistrate requesting tougher bail conditions and alleged offenders be banished from town The elders say putting young offenders in bail houses is failing and offenders should be put on country instead

The elders say putting young offenders in bail houses is failing and offenders should be put on country instead Those that disagree with the proposal say offenders should not be sent away, nor live with other people, which would be a burden on other families and friends

The ABC has obtained a video from a brawl on the streets of Cherbourg on January 6 showing groups of people attacking each other in front of children.

A spokesperson from the Queensland Police Service confirmed 13 people were charged with offences including public nuisance and affray, and are currently before the courts.

Cherbourg elder Dorothea Douglas said she fears someone will be killed if nothing is done to address the crime in the town.

"Children walking around and mothers with the babies in the pram. It's not safe, not safe for anybody," Aunty Douglas said.

In December, members of the Barambah Local Justice Group took the extraordinary step of writing to the magistrate requesting tougher bail conditions and for alleged offenders to be banished from the town.

Chairman of the group, Uncle Bevan Costello, said they were fed up with the same people stealing cars and breaking into homes.

"Young people [are] being let off to come back into our community, then once again they're committing the same crimes. It's like a revolving door," he said.

"Rather than let those people come back into our community I'd like to see those young men go and be put on country."

Some elders say they fear if nothing changes someone will be hit and killed by a stolen car. ( ABC News: Johanna Marie )

Bail houses and remaining in town 'failing'

The elders agreed it was only a handful of people causing problems, but it is those people the elders believe would benefit from being banned from the town while on bail.

"We don't want people to be of the impression that we don't want our kids here, because we want them here," Aunty Lillian Gray said.

"But we want them to do the right thing."

A group of elders wrote to the local Cherbourg court asking for young offenders to be banned from the town. ( ABC News: Johanna Marie )

Mr Costello said the Queensland Government's approach of putting young offenders in bail houses is failing in Townsville and Logan, but something similar on traditional land might work.

"Set up a place where they could be put, other than back here, and then our elders and community people and services go to that place and do the programs there," he said.

"The bottom line is to make sure that it's culturally appropriate."

Once the offenders are rehabilitated, the elders said they would be welcomed back to Cherbourg.

"We've got to remember this is their home too. This is where their mum is, their grandparents are, and great grandparents," Uncle Costello said.

Community divided on youth crime

The proposal has angered others in the community, including families of alleged young offenders.

Lynette Brown said she believed her grandson was one of the children the elders are trying to remove after he was allegedly involved in the theft of a car with a group of other children last November.

"We don't profess that he's an angel, we know he's not. However, what people don't see is the work that we as a family try to do," Ms Brown said.

"Some of these young offenders are minors and why should they be sent to live in other towns, to live with other people, and be a burden on other families and friends.

"They should stay in this community with their own families."

Another elder who goes by the name of Maggie also disagreed that problem children should be removed from Cherbourg.

But she said there needed to be a review of existing programs and why they are not working.

"I think the Government should be looking very carefully at how much money they're putting into this community," she said.

"There are so many different agencies, we are luckier than a lot of other places, and yet we're not working as a team to fix the problems."

Ms Brown said there needs to be more collaboration between the State Government, the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council, and community services to provide better outcomes for young people.

"I've lived in another community where everything happens through the local council and the community. They all work well together," she said.

More support to address underlying problems

Cherbourg local Sylvia McGregor has seen firsthand that young people can be put on the right path with support.

"I supported a young offender when he was only 11 years old … from the court room right through to youth justice on a bail condition," she said.

"Somebody had to take that extra step to help him, and I did that.

"The judge saw the success in it all, and the magistrate, and all charges were dropped.

"We've got a lot of good people in here with all the skills to walk people through their difficult things."

Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer said the State Government had heard the concerns of the Cherbourg community.

"We recognise that one of the great strengths of the Cherbourg community is that elders, local leaders, and the community want to be part of the solution to youth crime," Ms Farmer said.

She said the Transition 2 Success education and occupational training program would be rolled out in Cherbourg in the next few weeks following its success in other parts of the state.

"Six out of 10 participants in Transition 2 Success don't go on to reoffend, and 95 per cent go on to further education, training, or employment," she said.

"The program partners youth justice workers with local businesses, TAFE, and community organisations to support young people to gain certificate qualifications."