The number of upskirting incidents has more than doubled in a year, official data has shown, although only one in five cases lead to a charge.

Police forces across England and Wales recorded 120 incidents of upskirting in 2018, compared to 56 in 2017, according to information released to the Daily Telegraph under the Freedom of Information act.

Of these, 24 led to charges in 2018 under voyeurism or outraging public decency, up from 18 in 2016. The data is based on responses from 34 police forces, including the Metropolitan police and West Midlands.

A law making upskirting a criminal offence comes into force on Friday. People convicted of taking a photo or video underneath someone's clothing without their permission face up to two years in prison and being placed on the sex offenders' register

Lucy Frazer, the justice minister, said: "We have always been clear - there are no excuses for this behaviour and offenders should feel the full force of the law. From today, they will.