The executive's bill targets youth crime

The Scottish Executive's Anti-social Behaviour Bill proposes a number of measures to control problem youngsters, including powers to disperse gangs.

But Lib Dem MSP for Central Scotland, Donald Gorrie, has questioned whether the dispersal powers were necessary.

Mr Gorrie said there was room to improve the bill.

He told BBC Scotland's Politics Show: "We have to have really heavy discussions on the issue as to whether this clause in the bill will work and whether it will deliver what the Labour people quite rightly want to achieve."

'Unworkable'

The executive partnership agreement between the Lib Dems and Labour does not mention the dispersal measure, meaning that the Lib Dems are not obliged to support it.

Police groups and children's charities have already cast doubt on the bill.

Doug Keil of the Scottish Police Federation told the Politics Show that police had been consulted over the bill and found many measures unworkable.

He said: "When they see the bureaucratic and ineffectual nature of the powers police officers do not support it. What they want is more officers not more powers."

The Law Society has also questioned the bill, claiming it may be challenged under the European Convention of Human Rights.

We have a problem with anti-social behaviour and current powers are not tackling it Margaret Curran Communities minister

But Communities Minister Margaret Curran told BBC Scotland that the problem of anti-social behaviour was underestimated and the bill was needed to deal with the more serious cases.

She said: "We have made it very very clear that this power can only be used in very serious circumstances when there is a very serious and very persistent problem.

"We have a problem with anti-social behaviour and current powers are not tackling it.

"We are determined as an executive to respond to the problems of local people and develop solutions to meet that."

Ms Curran said once the power was clarified she was confident the executive could persuade MSPs to support it.