Police leaders have criticised the title of new ITV comedy Piglets, calling it “highly offensive” and “a disgusting choice of language”.

Set in a fictional police training college, the programme’s name is an apparent reference to the term “pig” which has long been used as a derogatory slang word for police officers.

Tiffany Lynch, acting national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents more than 145,000 rank and file officers, said the title “is highly offensive to police officers risking their lives to protect the public every day providing an emergency service”.

“It is a disgusting choice of language to use for the title of a TV programme,” Ms Lynch said.

“I find it incredulous that this has passed through checks and balances at an organisation made up of people who at any time have or may need the support and assistance of the police.”