Police rule out investigation into fraud at the BBC over huge pay-outs to senior managers Scotland Yard says it found 'insufficient evidence' to launch criminal probe Reading East MP Rob Wilson asked police to examine severance payments BBC bosses will not be investigated by police over claims the law was broken when huge pay-offs were given to senior managers. The Metropolitan Police said there was 'insufficient evidence of dishonesty or criminal misconduct to begin a criminal investigation'. It comes after the Corporation called in external auditors to widen the search for excessive severance payoffs made to its senior executives. Director general Tony Hall ordered KPMG to look at deals made to departing staff prior to 2010 to get to the bottom of the severance pay scandal. The National Audit Office is also investigating the files of 90 senior managers handed golden goodbyes in the past three years to see if they breached contractual limits. But the controversial pay-outs will not be the subject of a criminal investigation, Scotland Yard said. In response Scotland Yard said it was 'gathering information' on cases to see if the law had been broken. But today a spokesman said: 'The Metropolitan Police Service received allegations of misconduct in a public office and fraud in relation to severance payments and wider benefits for senior BBC managers. These allegations have been carefully assessed by officers from the Fraud Squad, Specialist, Organised and Economic Crime Command. The assessment, of available material, has concluded there is insufficient evidence of dishonesty or criminal misconduct to begin a criminal investigation, and the MPS will not be taking any further action. Police: Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley told Tory MP Rob Wilson that fraud squad officers were gathering evidence covering BBC pay-offs, but now Scotland Yard says it has found insufficient evidence to launch a criminal probe The NAO's first report identified one case where a BBC executive was paid £300,000 in lieu of notice after their redundancy was agreed - despite serving their notice in full. Its devastating report found the BBC handed its staff £369million over eight years, but only looked in detail at the most recent cases. The KPMG review means even more high-profile deals could come under scrutiny, including a £500,000 payoff to former BBC1 controller Peter Fincham in 2007. He resigned in disgrace after he was criticised for making false claims about doctored footage of the Queen. Lord Hall has already asked for a "detailed briefing" into his payoff, although the BBC has not yet confirmed whether it will publish what he is told. Another historic payoff likely to come under the spotlight is a six-figure sum handed to Lesley Douglas, a former controller of Radio 2 who resigned over the "Sachsgate" scandal involving Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross. Many BBC staff on lower salaries are understood to be furious at the high severance payments. In his email to staff earlier this month, Lord Hall tried to boost morale, saying: "I know this issue has provoked a very strong reaction from many of you and I understand why you feel that way. It is worth saying however that severance pay in general was part of an attempt to reduce senior management numbers, and in the process we did save £35m which went back into programme-making and will continue to do so at a rate of £19m a year as we move forwards. However, it is clear this was not done in accordance with best practice - that is why we have already tightened up procedures and also why we will not contemplate this level of payoff in the future, even though senior posts will continue to decline in number. A BBC spokesman would not comment on which specific deals KPMG is likely to look at. Findings will be published on September 9. But this week it emerged KPMG has spent thousands of pounds wining and dining some of the executives responsible for the most controversial payoffs. Lord Hall's decision to call in the firm was questioned after the company lavished some of the key figures in the scandal with hospitality including concert tickets, champagne and meals at top restaurants.