Jim Wallace backed the bill

At the moment, the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act, which aims to protect the victims of abuse, does not give police that power.

The new bill will also extend the protection of the law to relationships outside marriage for the first time.

This means that people such as divorced spouses, those in same sex relationships and other family members such as parents or grandparents will now receive legal protection.

It is estimated that one in four Scots women is the victim of domestic abuse, but until now only spouses have been protected by the law from a violent partner.

After a year of consideration, MSPs on the justice committee published the bill to extend the law in June.

It was an historic moment - the first time that a bill had been initiated by a Holyrood committee.

Trailblazing bill

Such a development cannot happen on equivalent committees at Westminster.

Opening the debate on the new legislation, Scottish National Party MSP Christine Grahame described it as a "trailblazing bill" which showed the Scottish Parliament in its best light.

Ms Grahame, the convener of the Justice 1 committee, said it demonstrated the differences between procedures at Holyrood and Westminster and said it would offer real protection to the victims of abuse.

In particular she pointed to the new powers police will have to arrest anyone who breaks a court order barring them from approaching those they have abused.

She said: "In many circumstances the availability of the power of arrest will enable police to take prompt action to remove any abuser from the scene."

Domestic abuse has for a long time been a blot on our national life.

Justice Minister Jim Wallace

Justice Minister Jim Wallace said the Scottish Executive was delighted to support the bill and added: "Domestic abuse has for a long time been a blot on our national life.

"Protecting the vulnerable is one of the most important duties of any civilisation and we fully expect that this bill will provide a significant additional shield for them."

Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken MSP failed in his attempt to have the bill amended so that those arrested for breaching the court order could be detained somewhere other than a police station.

He also unsuccessfully moved an amendment which would have forced the police to contact the parents under all circumstances following the detention of a child under the bill.

Under the provisions of the bill as drafted, which were agreed to by MSPs, police only have to contact parents where it is "practicable" to do so.

Anti-domestic violence campaigners Marie Urquhart said: "We're very emotional. The important thing is that it will not just protect women, it will protect anyone who is at risk from an abuser."

Campaigner Kelly Moreton added: "It's great that Scotland has gone it alone on this subject and hopefully Westminster will now follow suit."