<p><br /> Facebook has announced a raft of new measures to "transform social networking safety."<br /> </p><p><br /> The move is in response to calls to step up online security. It means fans will be able to report any unwanted or suspicious behaviour directly to child protection organisations.<br /> </p><p><br /> Managers have agreed to establish a new 24-hour police hotline, dedicated to helping with emergencies, investigations and prosecutions.<br /> </p><p><br /> The internet giant had been roundly criticised for defying calls to install a "panic" button on the networking site to help protect its 23 million users.<br /> </p><p><br /> Bosses were urged on Monday to "turn words into action" following a four-hour showdown meeting in Washington DC with Jim Gamble, Britain's most senior official responsible for protecting youngsters online.<br /> </p><p><br /> Mr Gamble said Facebook had not not agreed to his demands outright but acknowledged the popular social networking destination was "one small step from doing the right thing".<br /> </p><p><br /> Safety experts hailed Facebook's new measures, which are designed to give individuals greater control of their online safety.<br /> </p><p><br /> Independent child protection expert Mark Williams-Thomas termed the move a "considerable step forward in online safety" while Stephen Balkam, CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute, said the site was taking "a thoughtful, proactive approach to safety on the web".<br /> </p><p><br /> The new safety measures provided by Facebook will include a "safety centre" to supply parents, teachers, teenagers and police with improved resources.<br /> </p><p><br /> To back up the series of initiatives, the site will invest another £5 million in education and awareness.<br /> </p><p><br /> It will also provide safety organisations with one billion advertisements on the site over the next two years to ensure users know what to do if they feel threatened.<br /> </p><p><br /> Elliot Schrage, Vice President of Global Communications and Public Policy at Facebook, said there was "no single answer" to making the internet safer.<br /> </p><p><br /> But he added: "The investments and partnerships we've announced today - in direct reporting, in education and awareness, and in greater support for law enforcement - will transform social networking safety and security."<br /> </p><p><br /> The company has now called on the Government to consider new ways in which to share information about registered sex offenders securely with social networks.<br /> </p><p><br /> They believe this could help prevent dangerous individuals from accessing their services.<br /> </p>
