There is an argument that legislating a society to such a degree is an elastoplast for a country that is slowly losing sight of concepts like common decency, charity, family etc...
Cameras are just a single facet of this ethos. Plus they are there to help Police AFTER the event, not to prevent crime. Why do you think we banned Hoodies? Those clever little oiks actually put on baseball caps to foil our £3 billion surveillance Brave New World!! Inconceivable.
Also the British Public link all cameras to Speed cameras - which are just revenue generators (or as Jeremy Clarkson calls them - piggy banks) for council and government.
In the last 5 years Britain has become a place where as soon as you wake up you are bullied by various institutions for money, time and little bits of your soul. Unfortunately the biggest bully is the government. Don't believe me. Just look at the TV and Car Licensing adverts they use - they re based on fear and terrible consequences.
Cameras are there to do the same - behave or we will whisk you away under the name of the Court of Human Rights.