BBC News to cut back on crime coverage

LONDON, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Britain's BBC News announced plans to cut its coverage of crime stories in an effort to save the network money, the Times of London said Tuesday.

As many as 490 jobs are slated to be eliminated in the department as BBC television, radio and on-line operations are streamlined. The company's goal is to save $318 million during the next five years.

"The BBC will be focusing on the big, important stories that matter to all people. If major crime stories continue to feature in the news agenda, we'll duly report them," a spokesman said.

BBC Director General Mark Thompson announced last week that 2,500 jobs would be eliminated.

Helen Boaden, the director of BBC News, admitted staff members are "unhappy and anxious about some of the efficiencies we are having to make."

"We are talking about deploying fewer stories. For instance, I think there's some middle-ranking crime stories we could do without or think harder about the way we do them," Boaden said.