Facebook confirmed today it is in discussions with the Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre (CEOP) to insiall a ‘panic button’ application on the site. Richard Allan, Facebook’s director of public policy for Europe told Sky News, “We have continued talking to CEOP and are working very closely with them on a Facebook application that allows Facebook users, when they have concerns, to connnect with CEOP.”

The social networking site had previously turned down calls by CEOP to add “panic buttons” to its pages, despite public concern following the conviction of serial rapist Peter Chapman who posing as a young boy, used the site to meet 17-year-old Ashleigh Hall and lure her to her death in October last year.

Initially, Facebook claimed it had its own “safety net” to ensure its users were secure online. However, it now appears that the site has backed down. “We have been in dialogue with Facebook for some time,” a spokesperson for CEOP told Sky News Online. “Obviously we cannot confirm progress until we have an agreement in place with Facebook, but we are continuing to work with them.”

Facebook also confirmed its willingness to co-operate with CEOP, stating “We have had a number of constructive meetings and are working on a range of innovative approaches that will help educate and raise awareness of how to keep safe online.”

Read more about CEOP here: http://www.ceop.gov.uk/