BOLTON MP Yasmin Qureshi has played a leading role in moves to outlaw ‘upskirting’.

This is the term used to describe the indecent practice of recording images of genitals, buttocks and underwear without consent.

Shadow justice minister Ms Qureshi presented the Opposition’s response to the Voyeurism (Offences) (No. 2) Bill, which had its third reading today, before it goes to the House of Lords.

Speaking beforehand, she said: “Voyeurism doesn’t just affect women, men wearing kilts can be victims too.

“Everybody is entitled to bodily autonomy. Upskirting is a violent transgression.”

She cited polls which revealed that two-thirds of women questioned had suffered some form of sexual harassment this year.

Of those, 40 per cent suffered verbal harassment, nine per cent suffered upskirting and 15 per cent were groped once a month.

Ms Qureshi said: “Sexual harassment must stop, and victims must be protected.”

The Bill would insert two new offences into the Sexual Offences Act 2003, including where the offender had a motive of either obtaining sexual gratification, or causing humiliation, distress or alarm to the victim.

Additionally, it would ensure that the most serious offenders would be made subject to notification requirements, better known as being put on the sex offenders register.

Earlier this year, there was widespread public outrage when Sir Christopher Chope MP objected to the Bill when it was originally proposed.

However, it was superseded by the new Bill in June, which has received overwhelming cross-party support.

According to Safeline, a specialised charity working to prevent sexual abuse, upskirting is an alarmingly common occurrence and is usually performed in a public place, which is often crowded, making it hard to spot people taking such images.

A spokesman for the charity said: “Being a witness to or the victim of such an indecent act may make you feel incredibly uncomfortable and vulnerable, particularly if you are alone.

“If the person or persons responsible are exhibiting intimidating behaviours, then you may feel unable to confront them for fear of further discomfort and/or of being threatened.

“The knowledge that someone has taken potentially graphic images without consent can cause emotional distress for a long time after the event itself.”

Justice minister Lucy Frazer said: “This behaviour is a hideous invasion of privacy which leaves victims feeling degraded and distressed.

"By making upskirting a specific offence, we are sending a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated, and that perpetrators will be properly punished.”