Justice secretary Ken Clarke (pictured) has insisted he will not allow courts to become ‘theatre’ despite allowing cameras inside for the first time.

The government is planning to change the law to remove the ban on cameras in court, starting with the Court of Appeal and expanding to the Crown court in due course.

But Clarke, speaking in the House of Commons this week, emphasized he will not allow filming of juries, victims and witnesses under any circumstances.

He said: ‘The judge, when he gives a sentence or a judgment, is a public official performing a public function; his words can be quoted, he will be reported and there is no real reason why he should not be filmed.

‘The other people involved, I think, need to be protected because, otherwise the whole nature of the proceedings will be changed, some people will be intimidated and some people’s behaviour will be affected.’

Clarke said he will also allow broadcasting to be stopped if a defence lawyer is abusing privilege during mitigation.

‘Of course the lawyer is entitled to put forward mitigation for his client after the plea, but I strongly disapprove of any attempt for this to be used for people to make allegations against the victims.’