It's important because the cameras just make you feel like you are constantly being watched and they also completely change the atmosphere of the place where they are.
I think the amount of CCTV we have in this country needs to be reduced to at least pre 1997 levels. I read that we now have approximately 25% of the CCTV in the world in just this country. In some of the places we have them they are simpy not necessary like in the village centre where I live.