Academic staff from the University of Cambridge have written an open letter to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, expressing their concern regarding the recent news that police in Cambridge have been attempting to spy on students. Video footage given to the Guardian showed an anonymous officer from a Cambridgeshire police force unit asking a local activist, named only under the pseudonym John Armstrong, to infiltrate and reports on student activist groups in Cambridge.

Following the reports, there has been outcry from members of the University. A letter sent to the Vice-Chancellor on Monday labelled the police tactics as "highly invasive practices", and called on Sir Leszek to "make it clear that the University is in no way involved in supporting such practices".

"We ask that you issue an official statement condemning such covert practices, which infringe the traditional boundaries of University self-governance", the letter states. It also calls the news "chilling".

When the news first broke on Thursday, the University declined to comment and said that it was a matter for the police to attend to. Monday's letter asks for the University to take a stronger stance on the issue, and is signed by 130 academics.

Many of these academics, including Professor Simon Jarvis of Robinson College and Professor Alison Finch of Churchill College, also signed a statement of support for student direct action written by Cambridge Defend Education in 2010, regarding the protests against the rise in tution fees.

Speaking personally to Varsity, Professor Jarvis said:"The University owes a particular duty of care to its students. They should be free to communicate and to associate without being snooped on."

He added: "I really do hope that the Vice-Chancellor will feel able to ask the police to stop spying on his students. If he can't or won't, then it shouldn't be taken for granted that this view must be that of 'the University'. Many senior members of the University, I believe, would welcome something better than the mere shrug of indifference which is all that has so far been issued."

A spokesperson for the University today stated: "The Vice-Chancellor also notes the concerns of the letter’s signatories that the right to peaceful protest and political and social campaigning be preserved and protected. He has already made these points to the police.”

Julian Huppert, the Liberal Democrat MP for Cambridge and a Cambridge University alumnus himself said: "It concerns me greatly that an undercover police officer was trying to put student against student in this way. I cannot see any justification for this. If there are concerns they should be addressed in a more appropriate manner."

However he went on to say: "I am confident students will continue to speak out and be active against issues they feel strongly about."

Vince Cable, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, who is also a Liberal Democrat, also said to Varsity that the news "sounds very worrying".

The Vice-Chancellor has not yet made a public response to the letter sent yesterday. Regardless of these concerns, Cambridge Defend Education has planned another demonstration against student debt, which will take place at the Sidgwick Site tomorrow morning.