MINSTERS have committed to order a review of hate crime law following calls to recognise misogyny as an aggravating factor if it motivated upskirting.

Upskirting - taking a picture of someone’s clothing without their consent - was brought to parliament as a private member’s Bill after a Northwich woman was allegedly photographed from up her skirt at a music festival.

Gina Martin had been waiting for rock band The Killers to appear at the British Summer Time festival in Hyde Park, London, when she caught two alleged offenders taking a photo up her skirt.

After the issue was dealt with by the Metropolitan Police, the 25-year-old, who now lives in the capital, was told that no law had been broken ‘because her genitals were not visible’.

Gina said: “The reaction I’ve had since has been incredible, I’ve had messages from other girls who it has happened to. It’s part of a wider problem with guys harrassing girls.

“I think it should be a specific offence - it’s degrading and upsetting.”

The Bill was blocked by Tory grandee Sir Christopher Chope as MPs fought to bring legislation to make it a criminal offence.

Labour’s Stella Creasy has urged the Government to fund a Law Commission review into hate crime in new and existing legislation as the Voyeurism (Offences) Bill was debated in the Commons last Wednesday.

The Walthamstow MP said the true extent of hate crimes against women was being “masked” in the criminal justice system because misogyny is not currently recognised as such, but withdrew her amendment to the legislation following the Government’s commitment.

Justice Minister Lucy Frazer spoke against proposals to amend the Bill, saying statutory aggravating factors “don’t usually apply to one or two offences” and would make them “inconsistent with all other sexual offences”.

She told MPs: “I’m pleased to announce I will be asking the Law Commission to undertake a review of the coverage and approach of hate crime legislation following their earlier recommendation to do so.

“This will include how protective characteristics, including sex and gender characteristics, should be considered by new or existing hate crime law.”

The Bill received an unopposed third reading and will undergo further scrutiny in the Lords.