SEVEN females - including five children - contacted Essex Police to say they had been a victim of upskirting in the first six months of a new law specifically targeting the perverted act was introduced.

The Government officially introduced a specific law banning the act in April last year as part of the Voyeurism (Offences) Act.

And in the first six months Essex Police recorded seven instances of upskirting - which usually involves using a recording device to take a photograph or video of a woman's privates in a public place.

All seven victims were female, and five were under the age of 16.

The other two were aged over 30.

The younger victims all reported male pupils attempting to or taking photographs while at school, while the adult victims said they were targeted in busy public spaces - although

no suspect was identified in either case.

One of the school incidents resulted in "diversionary, education or intervention activity".

The rest are yet to be resolved.