The powers allow groups of youths to be moved on

The proposals would allow police to designate hotspots which groups could be ordered to leave if their behaviour was thought likely to cause alarm.

Tory MSP Bill Aitken and Lib Dem Mike Rumbles argued the powers in the new Anti-social Behaviour Bill were "illiberal" and unworkable.

The Communities Committee backed the plans by five votes to four.

Final decision

Lib Dem MSP Donald Gorrie joined the four Labour members of the committee to save the plans - which have been criticised by senior police and rank and file officers, as well as human rights and children's groups.

Mr Gorrie said his party would not have included the provision if it was drawing up the bill from scratch.

But he said that he first hoped to improve the measures before Stage Three of the Bill's passage rather than ditching them.

The Central Scotland MSP said all Lib Dems would have to make a final decision in the full parliamentary vote at Stage Three.

But party colleague Mr Rumbles said ministers had justified dispersal powers on "flimsy" evidence, against a majority view opposed to them.

Lib Dem Donald Gorrie voted for the powers

The MSP for West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine also insisted the measures were not in the Partnership Agreement with Labour and so Lib Dems were not bound to support them.

"Unless the executive changes its mind, I will not be voting for this when I get a vote on this at Stage Three," he added.

"I know, and I would hope that many liberal-minded colleagues from whichever party would also throw out this part of the legislation."

Tory Glasgow MSP Bill Aitken, who lodged the amendment insisted that the existing common law on breach of the peace was sufficient, and that the provisions for dispersal went down a "very dangerous path".

'Additional tool'

But Labour backbenchers and Deputy Communities Minister Mary Mulligan insisted the current law was not working.

Dispersal powers would be an "additional tool" for police to tackle significant and persistent anti-social behaviour, the minister argued.