Mr Macaskill was accompanied on a tour of the building by Director of Forensics Services Tom Nelson and SPSA Convener Vic Emery.

The 50,000-square-foot building is sited on the city’s modern Dundee One plot, neighboured by the Apex Hotel and the City Quay shopping and flats development.

Boasting the latest in crime fighting technology, the centre features a photographic studio, chemistry, biology and drugs labs, fingerprint and scene examination units, a DNA robot and the Scottish DNA database.

The experts working there have been relocated from their previous premises at Tayside Police HQ in Bell Street, which had become cramped.

The facility was named Rushton Court after the late Doctor Donald Rushton, who was a pioneering forensic pathologist and one of the first to introduce the techniques to police work in Dundee.

Dr Rushton’s widow, Gillian Rushton, was present at a short ceremony on level four of the building, where Mr MacAskill unveiled a plaque to open the new facility.

She said, “I think the naming of the building is most appropriate, as he did bring forensic science to Dundee.

“But it is important to mention he had a very good team working alongside him.”

Mr MacAskill said the building would assist in the “crucial role” played by the SPSA in tackling crime in Scotland.

He added, “I am proud of the excellent work done by SPSA’s expert forensic scientists.

“They are at the forefront of new techniques in the use of DNA to identify individuals and provide the police with leads to investigate.

“DNA is a fantastic tool which can solve crimes of all levels. It is more important than ever that we provide these scientists with the tools and facilities they need to support police forces across the length and breadth of Scotland.”

A section has been provided for scientists to carry out blood spatter experiments, allowing them to reconstruct events establishing possible “crime story” patterns.