Senior police officers will soon have the power to identify particular areas where tearaways are making life miserable for residents, and be able move in to break up groups gathering on street corners.

It is one of the most contentious sections of the new Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, and opposition politicians have expressed concern that youngsters could be stigmatised, a view shared by Mr Vine.

He said the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland, of which he is president, would have to sit down and examine provisions of the bill, but dispersal may be the most contentious and difficult in terms of workability.

“We will have to make sure if we use this power it will have to be appropriate in the circumstances. You don’t want to stigmatise an area or overreact to a group of young people congregating and doing nothing.”

He said police would have to consult local authorities and communities and ensure the areas were those with ongoing problems such as vandalism.

The SNP has already attacked that section of the bill and Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said these were genuine concerns raised by Mr Vine.

“I have spoken to communities which have problems with a small number of youngsters persistently causing trouble, but this section of the act could run the risk of applying these sanctions to all young people.”

However, Mr Vine said the tagging measure, which worked well with adults, would be of benefit when extended to under 16s. He said, “It is a way of controlling behaviour very effectively and we have a hard core of young offenders, which although very small, creates misery for the communities in which they live.”

Referring to new parenting orders, he said, “There is a small group which is out of control and whose parents do not seem to be able or care to control them or have any interest in what their children are doing. We can now get these parents into court and tell them they are responsible and they must comply with orders placed on them by a Sheriff or face penalties.”

New police powers to issue fixed penalties which will relate to minor offences involving vandalism, drinking in public or breach of the peace will not apply to under 16s.

Launching the bill today, First Minister Jack McConnell said, “Anti-social behaviour in all its forms is not acceptable in Scotland any longer. Our proposals send out a strong message to all Scots that we have listened to what they have said, that we understand and have taken action.”

Communities Minister Margaret Curran added their proposals were not about targeting any particular group because anti-social behaviour was not just caused by young people.”