I was not in the least surprised to learn that Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch NHS Trust has caved in and decided to provide smoking shelters for staff and visitors. (Daily Echo, 13 September).

This is par for the course these days – abject surrender.

It’s the same kind of mentality that forces pubs to serve drinks in plastic drinking vessels because a few antisocial thugs use traditional glasses as weapons.

Instead of punishing scofflaws – give in to them.

This approach sends a totally wrong message and will do nothing to stem the rising tide of antisocial behaviour that blights our society.

Hospitals especially should understand that there is no point in tackling the symptoms of a disease and ignoring the cause.

Robert Readman, Norwich Avenue West, Bournemouth