THIS WEEK IN 1976: Cowplain's new female sergeant

Patricia’s promotion to sergeant coincided with the Sex Discrimination Act becoming law, and she was the first woman in the country to become sergeant of a sub-division.

Several other female police officers had since been appointed to similar posts.

‘I have been very well received at Cowplain, and I am looking forward to the job immensely,’ she told The News.

During her 10 years in the force she had worked at Albert Road police station, Southsea, where she did basic police work, dealing mainly with offences committed against women and children, and by women and juveniles.