Is Ms Patel's bullying in fact a crime ?

Aim

There have been reports in the press that the Home Secretary bullied staff in the Home Office. Is her action Misconduct in Public Office ?

The Code of Conduct for Ministers of the Crown states:

1.1 Ministers of the Crown are expected to maintain high standards of behaviour and to behave in a way that upholds the highest standards of propriety. 

and 

1.2 Ministers should be professional in all their dealings and treat all those with whom they come into contact with consideration and respect. Working relationships, including with civil servants, ministerial and parliamentary colleagues and parliamentary staff should be proper and appropriate. Harassing, bullying or other inappropriate or discriminating behaviour wherever it takes place is not consistent with the Ministerial Code and will not be tolerated. 

And yet, an investigation found that Ms Priti Patel MP has bullied civil servants in the Home Office , and Mr Johnson has decided not to remove her from her post. 

John Bowers QC has just published a most interesting article entitled " The mysterious case of Priti Patel and her "unintentional bullying" which you can find here: 

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2020/12/mysterious-case-priti-patel-and-her-unintentional-bullying

The CPS guidance on the criminal offence of Misconduct in Public Office

 https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/misconduct-public-office

would seem to suggest that Ms Patel's actions , insofar as they were wilful , could be considered to be  Misconduct in Public Office , so one possibility would be to apply to the Court for a Summons to prosecute Ms Patel for this serious criminal offence, and ask the Court decide on her actions

This project successfully funded on 8th January 2021