The BBC journalist Martin Bashir will face no criminal investigation over allegations he used fake documents to persuade Diana, Princess of Wales, to take part in an explosive interview in which she opened up about her marriage and other issues. The Metropolitan police said on Thursday that officers had sought legal advice from internal lawyers, independent counsel and the Crown Prosecution Service and determined their further involvement was not appropriate. Lawyers for Alan Waller, a former employee of Earl Spencer, Diana’s brother, have claimed he was the subject of false documents allegedly used to gain access to her. “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,” said Commander Alex Murray on Thursday. “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.” It was alleged that Bashir used mocked-up bank statements to persuade Spencer to give him access to Diana, falsely suggesting Waller was receiving payments. The BBC has previously acknowledged that Bashir admitted commissioning mocked-up bank documents. But the journalist had said they played no part in securing the Panorama interview. The broadcaster has backed Bashir, relying on a note from Diana in which it says she acknowledged the journalist did not coerce her. It has agreed to hold an independent inquiry, led by the former supreme court judge Lord Dyson. The Duke of Cambridge, Diana’s eldest son, has said: “The independent investigation is a step in the right direction. It should help establish the truth behind the actions that led to the Panorama interview and subsequent decisions taken by those in the BBC at the time.”