Police leaders have strongly criticized the title of ITV’s new comedy “Piglets,” calling it “highly offensive” and “disgusting.” The show’s name, referencing the derogatory slang “pig” for police officers, has sparked significant backlash from the law enforcement community.
Tiffany Lynch, acting national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents over 145,000 officers, expressed outrage, emphasizing that the title insults officers who risk their lives daily to protect the public.
Lynch described the title as “incredulous” and criticized ITV for allowing such a name to pass through their checks, noting that it insults officers who are already under immense negative pressure.
She emphasized that officers deserve respect, not humiliation, especially in an environment of rising threats and violence against them. Lynch argued that inciting negativity and misinformation against the police is dangerous and unhelpful.
Mukund Krishna, chief executive of the Police Federation, also condemned the title, accusing ITV of undermining the police service and calling it an insult to brave and hardworking officers.
He stated that the federation would be writing to Ofcom and ITV to demand a change. An ITV spokesman defended the title, explaining that “Piglets” is a fictional comedy about a police training academy and that the name is meant to be a comedic and endearing play on words, highlighting the innocence and youth of the trainees.
The show, starring Mark Heap and Sarah Parish, is set to air on July 20 and is produced by the team behind “Smack The Pony” and “Green Wing.”
