Critics say Scotland Yard -- England's top police agency--  failed to investigate alleged widespread criminal acts by journalists at Britain's oldest newspapers.

Now, some of the nation's leading police officials are resigning -- and many Americans are wondering if a similar scandal could ever take place in the U.S.

CBN News spoke with Mitch Land, dean of Regent University School of Communications and the Arts, about this scandal and how it affects the reputation of journalists.

Watch as he talks about this and what can be done to ensure America doesn't fall victim to this kind of ethics scandal.

Reporters for the papers owned by Rubert Murdoch are accused of hacking into people's phone accounts for personal information.

In response Monday, Assistant Commissioner John Yates -- Scotland Yard's top anti-terrorist officer -- resigned.  His announcement came after Police Chief Paul Stephenson stepped down Sunday.

Both Yates and Stephenson are linked to Neil Wallis, a former executive who worked for Murdoch's News of the World tabloid.

"I had no knowledge of the extent of this disgraceful practice or in deed the extent of it, and the repugnant nature of the selection of victims that is now emerging," Stephenson claimed.

As a result of the scandal, Murdoch closed the News of the World publication.

In the U.S., Murdoch owns Fox News and the Wall Street Journal.