Letter to ITV and OfCom

As detailed in the General Secretary's blog for July 2024, Mark Marshallsay has written to OfCom and ITV to raise concerns about the television comedy, Piglets.

16 July 2024

PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL                                                                    

Dear Sir or Madam,

It is incredible that I find myself having to write this letter of complaint about an upcoming ITV series entitled ‘Piglets’.

As General Secretary of this organisation, I’m sure I speak for the 3000 Police officers that I represent, when I say that this is crass, insulting and highly inflammatory.

Police Officers risk their lives every day to protect the public, working hard to keep people safe, despite the relentless and increasing negative pressure, that we receive from all angles, especially the media. This is yet another example whereby we are whipping posts exempt from any protection.

Our officers continually run towards dangerous situations, resulting in being assaulted, sustaining injuries and in some cases, paying the ultimate price for just doing their job.

At a time where the Police image is at an all-time low, this totally undermines the hard work we are undertaking to change this perception. This show is demeaning and humiliates officers who deserve the utmost respect for the job they do.

As you can see, I am disgusted at the choice of language used for the title of the show and the content displayed in the trailers does not instil me with much confidence either. We are constantly battling to attract and retain quality officers, who can best serve the public. The actions of ITV, and specifically this show, totally negates this.

I cannot believe that this has passed all the checks and balances, whereby this offensive tripe, described as comedy, is allowed to be aired.

On behalf of my members and the officers I represent, I demand that this show be seriously reconsidered and at the very least, the title changed.

Yours faithfully.

Mark Marshallsay

General Secretary