Facebook urged to install 'panic button' to protect youngsters

Social networking website Facebook came under renewed pressure today to install a "panic button" on its website to protect youngsters from predatory paedophiles.

Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman demanded "swift action" to ensure protection for children was kept up to date with changing technology.

She was speaking as the American-owned site continued to refuse to install technology allowing users to report potential abuse directly to Ceop - the UK's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.

This contrasts with other sites such as Bebo and MSN, which have installed it.

This week Peter Chapman was jailed for life at Teesside Crown Court and told he must serve at least 35 years after he admitted the kidnap, rape and murder of 17-year-old Ashleigh Hall.

Chapman, a convicted sex offender, used a false identity to befriend and entrap the teenager through Facebook, which has some 23 million UK users.

Today, during questions on future Commons business, Labour's Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) demanded: "Should we not be debating in this House how we can ensure that Facebook uses the Ceop alert so that children who are afraid or fear they are being targeted can highlight their concerns directly to Ceop?

"Currently they are not able to do so and are placed at risk."

Ms Harman replied: "I would strongly agree with you and this is the view of ministers as well, not least the Home Secretary (Alan Johnson). Action is being taken in this respect.

She added: "The point is we cannot have public policy or the policy of those in the industry lagging behind if it means that in the meantime children are at risk.

"We need swift action on this and we need to keep it closely under review all the time so as the technology and methods of communication change, we make sure the protection keeps up to date."