Virtual taskforce to fight online child abuse

Police from the UK, Canada, Australia and the US have launched a "one-stop shop" Web site for children to report online paedophilia.

Police said that virtualglobaltaskforce.com has been designed to make the Internet safer for children.

The UK's National Crime Squad has led the initiative with Interpol and its counterparts in Australia, Canada and the US. Technology companies MSN, Vodafone, AOL and BT have backed the scheme.

"It is only through building partnerships like these that we can be effective in protecting children and making the Internet safe for children," said Home Office minister Paul Goggins. "Child protection on the Internet is an issue where the UK has consistently led the world in our commitment to tackling the problem, in our readiness to work in partnership with all those who have a role to play and in our ability to think innovatively about solutions."

The Web site provides information for children on how to use the Internet safely and links to a range of support agencies. It also offers a confidential channel for users to report online child abuse.