GWENT politicians have lent their support to a campaign for tougher and more thorough policing of the Internet to protect children from predatory paedophiles.

The Children's Charities Coalition for Internet Safety, which includes NCH, NSPCC, Barnardo's and ChildLine, has joined forces with the police to call for an urgent review of Internet policing.

It is argued that a lack of essential police equipment means criminals are evading capture or being bailed for inappropriate amounts of time.

Investigations are often dropped because Internet crimes have not taken place in a relevant police force's boundary.

The charities will tomorrow publish a manifesto demanding a national policing unit is set up and many more resources urgently pumped into tackling Internet crimes against children.

They say child protection must be made a priority in National Policing Plan as a matter of urgency.

In the manifesto the children's charities are calling for:

* A virtual 999 service for the Internet, providing a national focal point for public and professionals.

* A change in the law to make it illegal to offer advice on how to abuse children.

* Computer manufacturers and retailers to pre-install Internet safety software set to a high level.

* Banks to design payment cards, which automatically alert others, eg gambling web sites, that they are being used by someone under the age of 18.

* For all government departments to form a common policy on tackling child abuse online.

Gwent politicians are backing the move.

Blaenau Gwent MP Llew Smith said: "Looking at some of the tragedies that seem to have emanated from the use of computers and the internet, I believe every penny has got to be spent limiting the possibility of history repeating itself."

Islwyn MP Don Touhig said: "The Internet is one way we hadn't anticipated children would be vulnerable to paedophiles. We do need to do more to protect children using the net."