The ICO report states that in 2006 the BBC was only able to provide a total of 10 documents in response to similar requests for information.
The fact that Panorama’s interviews were exclusive has also been cited as a reason for the thin footprint of these papers.
“The red tape could certainly have been kept to a minimum prior to transmission,” the BBC’s information manager claimed, the article reported.
“Much of the communication would have intentionally been done by telephone or meetings to avoid the need for written records.”
The BBC also claimed that only a “very small group” were involved in the production of the programme, the majority have since left, and that the availability of records is limited.
Princess Diana’s interview catapulted the previously largely unknown reporter to stardom, and after a stint at rival ITV, he enjoyed a lucrative career in the United States.
Bashir has always maintained that forged documents played no role in securing his meeting with the late princess, citing her handwritten notes that appear to support this claim.
“Fear, paranoia, and isolation”
But in 2021, the then Duke of Cambridge launched a scathing attack on the reporter’s conduct, saying his interviews “contributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolation” in her later years.
When the BBC released the documents in October 2021 following a freedom of information request from documentary maker Andy Webb, it admitted it had not released everything because Bashir was suffering from illness.
In a letter to Mr. Webb and others requesting relevant documents, the company said it could not release material “related to Mr. Martin’s conduct at the time.”
The BBC stated: “Having carried out an impact assessment on our legitimate interests, which is necessary when considering the competing rights of freedom of information, privacy and personal data protection rights, and our duty of care to Martin, we are unable to take these into account at this time. I have come to the conclusion that I cannot.” I was released. ”
Mr Bashir returned to the BBC as religious affairs correspondent in 2016, but resigned in 2021 after an independent inquiry by Lord Dyson concluded in the same year that he was “untrustworthy”, “evil” and “dishonest”. did.
A friend of Mr Bashir’s told the Telegraph that the reporter had said: “He did not destroy any documents and in fact gave everything he owned to the Dyson investigation.”