Coroner Michael Barnes said the inquest on Cameron Doomadgee, set to get under way on February 28, would now be split between Palm Island and Townsville.

The police presence required for the expected week-long Palm Island segment of the hearing is expected to cost about $200,000.

Locals have ridiculed any suggestion violence could flare again on Palm Island. Council chairwoman Erykah Kyle guaranteed everyone's safety provided the hearing remained on the island.

But lawyers for police involved in the arrest of Doomadgee, whose family has requested he now be referred to as Mulrunji, claim their clients' safety cannot be guaranteed.

The man who arrested Mulrunji, Sergeant Chris Hurley, is especially concerned his presence will re-ignite the emotions that led to riots last November.

"No one is more at risk in these proceedings than my client," lawyer Steven Zillman told the inquiry yesterday.

Mr Zillman said his client's behaviour during and after the arrest of the deceased would be closely scrutinised.

He said there were possibly still agitators on the island with no guarantee all those who allegedly incited the riots had been arrested.

Peter Baston, representing the Queensland Police Commissioner, said "the interests of justice" would be best served if police were allowed to give evidence free of intimidation.

He said holding the inquiry on Palm Island would also drain police resources, with the bill for supplying extra police expected to reach about $200,000 for one week.

Cr Kyle said the community had gone to extraordinary lengths to maintain order in recent weeks, with distinctively dressed locals acting as security guards at yesterday's directions hearing.

Mr Barnes said he had great difficulty reconciling the opposing views of the inquiry's location.

Andrew Boe, representing the council, said the community had shown at Mulrunji's funeral that it could behave in a dignified manner.

The inquiry could last up to two weeks.