Why the barriers?

I went to some local galleries the other day to look at some new work that has been put up. A lot of the work was behind these wire barriers you see everywhere. I think its fair enough to have fragile work behind them so it dosent get damaged but i feel ike i cant interact with other work that you can touch. For instance, the Leeds city art gallery, there is a sculpture in the form of a shed like structure thats covered with fur. that seems to encorage its audience to touch it and interact with it. But i feel quite apprihensive about doing so. Even if the gallery does permit the people to do so, i find that the atmosphere within the space dosent give of that impression. The cameras that survey every room and the secruity guards traipsing around can be unsettling and maybe even supresses some peoples enjoyment of the work on display. Its like when a policeman walks past you and you feel guilty for no reason, the survalience affects what your thinking. I think, although security is necisary, i think it should be managed in a different way. I dont know how.