This week’s front page story details what happened when a man tracked down the alleged mugger who stole his nephew’s bag at knifepoint - and found “a frightened boy”.

Winston Davis spoke to the teenager and offered him the opportunity to bring the bag back the next day, which he did.

Read more: Watford man tracks nephew's 'knifepoint mugger' and lectures him to change ways

Brave, maybe. But Mr Davis may well know what he is doing. He is also the chairman of a group in London that helps Afro-Caribbean boys aged six to 16 learn skills to better themselves.

His story was echoed in the experience of police in Hertsmere, who found that giving young people something to do helps reduce antisocial behaviour.

Read more: Police eye new plan to crack down on teenage antisocial behaviour

And this week’s paper also features a basketball summer camp, which eligible children could attend for free, even getting a hot meal.

Attended by nearly 80 children a day, it featured training, competition and inspiration in the form of a visit from a Commonwealth gold-medallist.

All those young people were kept off the streets and out of trouble, freeing up their parents from having to look after them.

Some have drawn parallels between the closure of youth clubs and youth projects and the rise in gang violence and knife crime.

Critics of government getting too involved in our lives like to moan about the nanny state. But maybe it’s not such a bad thing after all.