University of Cambridge tells students to stop flirting with professors under a new policy banning sexual relations between lecturers and undergrads

The University of Cambridge has told students to stop flirting with staff under a new policy banning sexual relationships with professors. 

The new rules which come into force on July 1 include a warning against behaviour 'that could be interpreted as flirtatious'. 

University staff have been told they must report any behaviour that could constitute a student 'making advances towards a personal, particularly intimate relationship' with them. 

Students have even been warned that records of 'flirtatious behaviour' could be kept if considered appropriate by the university, the Telegraph has reported. 

Employees have been told that they must admit any current or past relationships or friendships with students by August 1 or they could be sacked. 

The rules, which fall under Cambridge's updated relationships policy, form part of a complete ban on sexual relationships between professors and students from July. 

The old policy only strongly dissuaded such relationships, rather than banned them completely.  

Lecturers are also being dissuaded from building close friendships with students that they teach. 

Cambridge has defended the policy, saying it has been updated to protect staff and students from potential conflicts of interest and to prevent sexual misconduct.  

The new code brings Cambridge in line with the University of Oxford that introduced a similar policy last year. 

Cambridge's rules, however, go one step further by saying that records of flirtatious 'messages or other behaviours' should be kept. 

A spokesman for the University of Cambridge said: 'The new policy on staff and student relationships follows an extensive consultation across the University involving staff and student representatives, Departments and Colleges.

'It also takes into consideration the views of the regulator, the Office for Students, and Universities UK. 

'The policy significantly strengthens the existing approach.

'From July 1, intimate relationships will be prohibited between staff and students where the staff member has any professional responsibility for that student, as defined in the policy.'