Dyson report: BBC to review editorial policies following review

The report by John Dyson, a former top judge, concluded that journalist Martin Bashir had used “deceitful behaviour” to land the world exclusive interview and an internal BBC investigation a year later had covered it up.

In a statement, the BBC board admitted the failings set out in the 127-page document and said it hoped to ensure the “mistakes of the past” were not repeated.

READ MORE: Trust in BBC 'has eroded' in wake of Diana interview scandal

It said: “We accepted Lord Dyson’s findings in full and reiterate the apology we have offered to all those affected by the failings identified.

“We recognise the impact that the events it describes has had on so many people, not least those whose lives were personally affected by what happened.

“We also acknowledge that audiences had a right to expect better from the BBC.”

The review will be undertaken by a group of non-executive board directors, led by Sir Nick Serota, senior independent director of the BBC.

It will be supported by Ian Hargreaves and Sir Robbie Gibb, non-executive members of the corporation’s editorial guidelines and standards committee, and will report to the BBC board in September.

The review will look at oversight of editorial practices and assess the robustness and independence of whistleblowing processes at the broadcaster.

It will also identify “lessons to be learned” from the Dyson report which may be relevant today.

The board added: “We have confidence that the processes and guidelines in today’s BBC are much stronger than they were in 1995, but we know we must also do what we can to prevent such an incident happening again.

“As such, we think it is right that we review the effectiveness of the BBC’s editorial policies and governance in detail.

“In doing this, the board will hold the Executive to account to ensure there are strong day-to-day editorial processes and a clear route by which to handle any specific issues arising from Lord Dyson’s report.

“The board will look at the culture of the BBC as part of its remit to assess the effectiveness of policies and practice.”

READ MORE: Tory minister tells BBC to 'project British values' – or face licence fee chop

Despite steps being taken since 1995 to improve the conduct of BBC employees, Bashir was rehired by the corporation in 2016.

BBC chairman Richard Sharp (below), who took over the role from Sir David Clementi earlier this year, said there had been “clear failures” at the broadcaster.

He told World at One on BBC Radio 4: “There’s no doubt, and the Dyson report reveals this, that the practices adopted in advance of the interview were entirely unacceptable in any ethical news journalism and broadcasting entity, and that was a clear failure.

“Subsequently, it’s also clear that the approach to reviewing the programme and the practices failed, and that’s a separate failure which was identified in the prince’s [William] statement to do with one of governance, accountability and scrutiny.”

Sharp added that he trusted new director-general Tim Davie to investigate why Bashir had been rehired.

READ MORE: This is why the Diana interview scandal also affects BBC Scotland

Scotland Yard has said it will study Dyson’s findings to assess whether the report contains any “significant new evidence”.

Dyson said Bashir was in “serious breach” of the BBC’s producer guidelines when he faked bank statements and showed them to Diana’s brother Earl Spencer to gain access to the princess.

An internal inquiry in 1996, led by former director-general Tony Hall, who was director of BBC news and current affairs at the time, exonerated Bashir, even though he had previously admitted lying about the fake documents he used in obtaining the interview.