Robert Lambert who has been a member of the IR department at St Andrews since 2008 was unmasked recently as 'a former spy who controlled a network of undercover police officers in political groups.' [1] When he was an undercover police officer he tricked two women into having long-term relationships with him 'as part of an intricate attempt to bolster his credibility as a committed campaigner.' [2] In addition to this deceit he also fathered a son with one of these women, though he never revealed his true identity to the women or to his son.

We the undersigned are horrified that an academic at this university could have acted in such a reprehensible manner and given that he has not issued an apology or shown remorse, we have no idea whether Lambert, the university or his department thinks his behavior was acceptable.

His university profile implies that his 'operational experience' within 'counter-terrorism' and the police service is what gives him the relevant characteristics for an academic role, but we believe that if as part of this experience he acted in an immoral and indeed illegal way then it is only right that he should face a university disciplinary hearing to see if he should remain in his position within the university. [3]

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