[2] Originally a country house, the Prison Service converted the building into a Young Offenders Institution in 1954.

[3] This followed an incident that resulted in the death of a woman when two prisoners caused a multiple-vehicle traffic accident during a 100 mph chase while out on day release.

[citation needed] In 2000 a large raid (named Operation Swinford) at Blantyre House caused controversy amongst the press and politicians.

[4] The following year Blantyre House was singled out as having the best community relations of any prison in the UK along with one of the lowest re-offending rates.

In the same year the Home Office announced plans to expand the prison by building a new block which could double capacity at Blantyre House when built.