ITV cop comedy branded ‘disgusting’ and ‘dangerous’ by angry officers

Officers have slammed an upcoming ITV comedy that mocks the police as “disgusting” and “dangerous”.

The show, titled Piglets, is set in a fictional police training college and follows the journey of new recruits. Featuring Sarah Parish of Bancroft fame and Mark Heap of Brass Eye.

The Police Federation has expressed its outrage at the programme, which is set to premiere later this month, labeling it “insulting” and “inflammatory”. There is concern that it could spark increased hostility towards police officers and trainees.

Tiffany Lynch, Acting National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, commented: “The new ITV show Pigs is deeply offensive to police officers who risk their lives to protect the public every day, providing a service emergency”.

She added: “It’s a disgusting choice of language to use for the title of a TV programme. I find it incredulous that this has gone through checks and balances at an organization made up of people who at all times have or may need support. and police assistance,” reports Oglinda.

Lynch continued: “Our colleagues are working hard and keeping people safe under relentless negative pressure at this time, insulting our new officers in the service is unnecessary. The name of this show is also inflammatory against a landscape of increasing threats and violence against officers. they shouldn’t be put at extra risk for looking at the numbers, our officers deserve respect, not humiliation for the work they do.”

“It is actually incredibly dangerous to incite more negativity and misinformation against a public sector service that is already under so much pressure.”

The term pig is often used as a derogatory slang term for police officers. The Police Federation has announced it will lodge complaints with Ofcom and ITV over the show.

Mukund Krishna, CEO of the Police Federation of England and Wales, confirmed: “The title of the program is an insult to our brave and hardworking members. At a time when the service is struggling to attract and retain officers, ITV’s actions are totally undermining. .”

“The federation will write to Ofcom and ITV to express their disgust and demand a change.”

Ponies, a new six-part comedy, comes from the team behind Smack The Pony and Green Wing.

Next up is a newly recruited group of six diverse police prospects and a handful of key personnel tasked with turning them into competent officers.

Headlining the cast are Sarah Parish and Mark Heap as the invaluable Superintendent Julie Spry and Superintendent Bob Weekes, who are responsible for overseeing the training of the next batch of recruits.

A spokesperson for the show said “Pigs is a fictional new comedy about a police training academy and the title is not intended to cause any offence, it is a comical and catchy pun to emphasize the innocence and youth of our youth trainees”.

The series starts on Saturday 20 July on ITV1, with the full series available simultaneously on ITVX.