That's Dr Plod to you

A constable with a PhD in history will soon be pounding the beat in Porirua, after graduating from Police College.

Before joining the force, John Battersby was a specialist historian for the Crown Law Office.

Of the 63 constables who graduated yesterday, 23 are women.

Many will serve in Greater Auckland: 14 in Auckland District, 13 in Counties-Manukau and 10 in North Shore Waitakere-Rodney.