Facebook accused of failing to play role in policing internet

Jim Gamble, who heads Britain's response to safeguarding youngsters online, said he has "real concerns" about the internet giant's work to protect children.

He challenged the company to reveal evidence that its staff were working to disrupt criminals and bullies lurking online.

Mr Gamble said investigators received 252 complaints about sexual grooming, bullying and hacking from Facebook users in the first three months of this year.

The former National Crime Squad deputy director said none of these were provided by the company itself and some were passed through rival services.

His comments were the latest salvo in a bitter feud over Facebook's refusal to add a "panic" button to its site's most popular pages.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre wants the button, which enables users to report abuse, to be given prominent use.

Mr Gamble, who leads the centre, is meeting Facebook bosses in Washington DC on Monday and will call for them to break the deadlock.

Speaking in central London yesterday, Mr Gamble said it was a "real concern" that Facebook was not passing information to police.

He said: "Facebook say their system is robust and we have no reason not to believe them. Our reports are increasing month on month.

"In the first quarter of this year we have had 252 complaints about Facebook. None of these complaints came direct from Facebook.

"If their system is so robust and they are receiving so many reports and concerns from young people, then where are they?"

Mr Gamble said the number of reports linked to Facebook was soaring, with the latest number of complaints almost equalling the 297 received in 2009.

He said the internet company was good at removing pornography and other obscene content but added: "I believe Facebook are confusing their approach to content with their approach to behaviour and that is the root of the problem.

"That is where predators will go online, engage the young and vulnerable, and lure them offline where they can abuse them.

"In many cases we are also seeing young people in the online environment being bullied to the point of suicide.

"I am meeting with Facebook in Washington DC and I will be presenting them with the facts as we see them.

"I will be asking for the evidence to show what they are doing to protect children in the UK. I have yet to see any evidence that they have passed any information to us."

Officials at the centre receive up to 800 reports every month from internet users who suspect others of grooming, bullying, fraud and other crimes.

Of the 252 complaints about Facebook received between January and March, two out of five were linked to sexual grooming.

Senior staff at the crime-fighting organisation said they are "baffled" and "confused" at Facebook's continued reluctance to adopt the panic button.

The issue was thrust into the headlines last month following the conviction of a serial rapist for the murder of Ashleigh Hall.

Peter Chapman posed as a young boy on the site to lure the 17-year-old to her death in Sedgefield, County Durham.

Mr Gamble said proposals to put the button on a special separate safety page were not acceptable as few would read them.

He said its prominent use would act like a burglar alarm on a house, deterring attempts at crime.

Mr Gamble said the actions of young people reporting suspicions through the button had led to paedophiles being jailed.