Bashir could face police probe over Diana allegations
BRITAIN’S most senior police officer has not ruled out a criminal investigation into Martin Bashir’s interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.
But Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said the force has not yet received a complaint from anyone with any evidence to examine.
Diana’s brother Earl Spencer has alleged that the BBC journalist showed him fake financial documents and also told untrue stories about the Royal Family to gain access to his sister.
The documents falsely suggested Diana’s then private secretary, and another royal household member, were being paid by the security services to spy on the princess, something that played on Diana’s fears about her safety and privacy.
The BBC has appointed retired judge Lord Dyson to lead an investigation to discover what steps the BBC and Mr Bashir took to land the Panorama interview with Diana back in 1995.
The programme sent shockwaves through the nation with her revelations about the state of her marriage.
However, when asked about a potential
criminal investigation, Dame Cressida told reporters yesterday: “We have not had a complaint from somebody who is giving us any evidence to assess.
“If they were to, we would of course assess whether any crime has been committed or may appear to have been committed and, if so, whether it is appropriate for us to do an investigation.”
In 1996 former BBC director- general Lord Hall led an internal BBC investigation into Diana’s Panorama appearance.
Mr Bashir, the BBC’s religion editor, is seriously ill with Covid- 19- related complications and is not in a position to respond to the earl’s allegations, the BBC has said.