Yahoo News Police will not launch criminal investigation into Martin Bashir's interview with Diana
Scotland Yard will not launch an official investigation into allegations of criminality by the journalist Martin Bashir over his controversial interview with Diana Princess of Wales 25-years ago, it has been announced.
The BBC’s religious affairs editor had been accused of faking bank statements in order to persuade Earl Spencer to provide him access to his sister ahead of the bombshell scoop.
He accused the former Panorama journalist of “dishonest conduct” and said the BBC had “benefited” while aware his actions were “unlawful”.
But in a statement, Commander Alex Murray said following an assessment it had been decided to take no further action.
Mr Murray said "In recent months the Metropolitan Police Service received correspondence alleging unlawful activity in connection with a documentary broadcast in 1995. This was carefully assessed by specialist detectives.
"They obtained legal advice from Metropolitan Police lawyers, independent counsel and from the Crown Prosecution Service.
"Following this detailed assessment and in view of the advice we received, we have determined that it is not appropriate to begin a criminal investigation into these allegations. No further action will be taken.
"In this matter, as in any other, should any significant new evidence come to light we will assess it."
Mr Bashir has admitted ordering Matt Wiessler, a freelance graphic artist, paid by the BBC, to mock up the bank statements ahead of a meeting with Earl Spencer.
The statements purported to show that members of the royal household were in the pay of tabloid journalists and the security services.
Earl Spencer has said the documents were key in persuading him to provide an introduction between Mr Bashir and his sister.
Lawyers for Mr Waller wrote to Dame Cressida Dick, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in January to lodge an official complaint over Mr Bashir's conduct.
In the letter, Mr Waller’s barrister, Anton van Delle, said: “I write in relation to the actions of two BBC employees or agents for whom the BBC were vicariously liable, with very serious concerns that they have committed a criminal act, namely conspiracy to create an instrument of fraud.
“In 1995, two BBC employees or agents engaged in a conspiracy to create an instrument of fraud, namely a purported copy of Mr Alan Waller’s bank statements. Mr Martin Bashir agreed with a graphic artist, Matt Wiessler, to create a bank statement purporting to belong to Mr Alan Waller.
“The fraudulent bank statement was then used to persuade Charles Spencer of Mr Bashir’s purported credentials and Mr Bashir subsequently gained an interview with the late Princess Diana to conduct the most significant interview to date for the BBC.”
Mr van Dellen said the faked bank statements had caused “significant reputational and financial loss” and went on: “The BBC wrongfully benefited enormously from the actions of Mr Bashir, financially and otherwise, on a global scale, whilst the BBC knew that it was engaged in unlawful activity.”
The BBC has appointed Lord Dyson, a retired judge and former master of the rolls, to lead an investigation to discover what steps the BBC and Mr Bashir took to land the Panorama interview with Diana in 1995.
Scotland Yard has said detectives will assess any fresh allegations that might come to light.
Mr Bashir’s exclusive interview with Princess Diana, broadcast on Panorama 25 years ago, caused shock waves around the world after she revealed her husband’s infidelity.
Mr Bashir is currently off sick having recently undergone heart bypass surgery following a coronavirus diagnosis.
