Abuse fight targets social sites

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Social networking sites are being urged to do more to protect young people. The Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre (CEOP) wants the sites to install its "report abuse" button that connects people to police. CEOP research shows some sex offenders are starting to use social network sites, such as MySpace, Bebo and Facebook, to seek out victims. Jim Gamble, head of CEOP, says: "The more children go on social networks, the more offenders follow them." Direct connection The button lets people report instances when they suffer or witness inappropriate sexual contact. In August 2006 Microsoft agreed to put the distinctive red icon on the of its instant messenger service - MSN Messenger. CEOP research shows that, while chatrooms and instant messaging services are the main places sex offenders go in search of victims, social networks are attracting them too. Latest figures show that around one million children under 16 use Bebo, while 600,000 minors are on MySpace. The networking sites say they make it simple for users to report abuse, though those reports usually go to the site administrators rather than the authorities. Mr Gamble says that is not enough: "When you are talking about the public in jeopardy and vulnerable, they need to contact law enforcement as soon as possible." The agency was set up in April 2006 and brings together the police, government departments and charities to combat child sex offenders.