The European Commission has set up a new website, designed to promote internet safety awareness issues, which has already become an election issue.

Located here the website provides concerned citizens with a central European hub to respond to illegal or harmful content on the web.

It includes information on where to find advice on the safer use of the internet and how to report illegal content through the network of hotlines, and gives examples of current filtering and rating software. Campaigners can also find details on European Union (EU) funded projects and activities, and information about how to apply for EU funding.

The Commission said: "The Safer Internet website is an important resource for awareness raisers, parents, teachers and children - in fact anyone who is concerned with the safe use of the internet and wants to know what is happening at a European level to address this important issue."

In the UK, the safe use of the web has become an increasingly important issue, both to prevent access to distasteful content and as a crime prevention measure, following the arrest of a paedophile who 'groomed' his target through an internet chat room.

At the weekend, the Labour Party backtracked on its position that current laws could be made to work when it unveiled plans to introduce civil injunctions for suspected paedophiles.

Law enforcement agencies could use the injunctions for approaches over the internet that they think could result in a meeting "intended for unlawful conduct" such as sexual assault. Breaching the order would be punishable by a jail term of up to five years.