Justice Secretary breaks ground on new Criminal Justice Centre Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill has ceremoniously broken the ground at the site of Grampian Police's new multi-million pound Criminal Justice Centre in Aberdeen. Work on the building is expected to take around a year, with the building scheduled to become operational in December 2013. The new building will consist of 60 cells, with interview facilities, solicitor consultation rooms and medical facilities. Mr MacAskill said: "I am delighted to perform this sod-cutting. The construction will save police resources and create even closer working with partners such as the Procurator Fiscal and Courts Service, improving the efficiency of the Criminal Justice process. Grampian's modern, high-quality building will set the standard for new custody facilities in Scotland and will provide an excellent asset for the single Police Service of Scotland. Mr MacAskill was joined by Deputy Chief Constable Colin Menzies to get construction officially under way at the former Scottish Water site on Great Northern Road in Kittybrewster. Deputy Chief Constable Colin Menzies said: "At weekends, we are often having to utilise facilities at police stations in Aberdeenshire to cope with custody demands, which obviously has time implications for our officers. As we move towards the single Scottish police force next year, this building will provide the new united Force with a facility to rival any in the UK. This new facility will allow our officers to get back on the streets as soon as possible. The new building will also house the Kittybrewster Local Policing Team, as well as around 90 other police staff including potentially a number of partner agencies such as the Procurator Fiscal and Courts service when required. Councillor Ron McKail, Convener of the Grampian Joint Police Board, said: "This is a much-needed facility that will help put police officers back on the streets where they are needed. By having partner agencies working side-by-side when needed, the efficiency of not just Grampian Police but the whole criminal justice process will be greatly increased.