Child abuse victims should be given new rights to sue paedophiles caught viewing or sharing indecent images of them, children charities have said.

The Children’s Charities’ Coalition on Internet Safety (CCCIS) called for the initiative arguing it would act as a deterrent for offenders, who now know they are unlikely to go do jail, as it could mean potentially losing their homes and pensions if caught with abuse material.

The CCCIS, which represents charities such as the NSPCC and Barnardo’s, said those convicted of indecent images should also face a new automatic surcharge to fund the treatment and therapy costs of victims of abuse.

The call comes as police have previously said they are struggling to cope with the now more than 5,000 arrests being made for indecent images every year.

Police chiefs have argued that some paedophiles caught with indecent images could be dealt with by conditional cautions to lighten the caseload.

John Carr OBE, Secretary of the CCCIS, said : "If you assume these offenders are rational, they must know that the chances of them being caught, convicted and sent to jail are very close to zero.

"But if they knew that if they were caught their house, their car, their pension, their assets could be at risk as they are obliged to pay compensation to the victims, that would act as a major deterrent.