I’ve spent the day teaching origami to teenagers in a secure unit for young offenders. Some just “didn’t get it” and left the class quickly, but the others responded well and we had a lot of fun. The inmates ranged from those on remand (awaiting sentencing) through to those guilty of serious assault, but it was hard to realise, they mostly seemed like typical teenagers to me.

It’s heartbreaking to see such young children incarcerated, but what else can society do? If the odd origami class plays even the tiniest part in some of their rehabilitation, it’s been a job worth doing.