THE government should classify “revenge porn” as a sexual offence so victims could be granted anonymity and would be more likely to seek justice, Labour said yesterday.

With the upskirting Bill coming before Parliament next week, Labour called on the Tories to bring in laws giving greater protection to those who have had images and videos of themselves naked posted online without their consent.

It would bring image-based sexual abuse in line with other sexual crimes that automatically grant victims anonymity under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Victims of revenge porn are not currently granted anonymity when they go to the police or to court. This loophole has led to them not pressing charges for fear of their names being reported in the press.

Shadow women and equalities minister Dawn Butler said: “People who post revenge porn to try to humiliate their partners or exes are committing a serious, warped sexual offence, and should be treated as so by law.

“The government must act to grant anonymity to victims of this vile crime, which has destroyed lives and sadly pushed some to taking their own lives.

“The Tories should ensure parliamentary time is given to change this law, which Labour will be proud to support.”

Campaigners believe that the lack of anonymity contributes to one in three allegations of revenge porn being withdrawn.

Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon added: “It is a gross injustice that victims of image-based sexual abuse, who have already had their privacy violated in a disgusting betrayal of trust, face having their identity made public when seeking to pursue charges.”

Lamiat Sabin is Morning Star Parliamentary Reporter.