The Metropolitan Police have said they will “assess” the contents of Lord Dyson’s report on the BBC’s 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, “to ensure there is no significant new evidence”, after previously deciding not to begin a criminal investigation.
Scotland Yard said in a statement that they had determined in March that “it was not appropriate to begin a criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful activity in connection with a documentary broadcast in 1995, but should any significant new evidence emerge it would be assessed”.
They added: “Following the publication of Lord Dyson’s report we will assess its contents to ensure there is no significant new evidence.”
During an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday it was put to the Justice Secretary that some people say the police should be involved following Lord Dyson’s inquiry.
Robert Buckland replied: “That, of course, is a matter for the police and the independent prosecutorial authorities, and I’m not going to say anything to prejudge or to influence any such line of inquiry.
“But I think anybody reading the headlines and the summary of Lord Dyson’s findings will be struck by his use of those words, fraud and deception and the like, and clearly those sort of issues, I’m afraid, could and do arise.”
Asked if a second inquiry was needed to look at wider questions not in the remit of Lord Dyson’s work, such as the handling of whistleblowers, Mr Buckland said: “I think all of us need to carefully comb through the report and if indeed there are issues that specifically Lord Dyson wasn’t able, due to the remit that he was given to look at, then there should be, and I’m sure there will be, an opportunity to do just that. “
