Crossing the Line: Rethinking the Alpha Victim

"Crossing the Line: Rethinking the Alpha Victim" is a new short film produced as part of the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre’s Crossing the Line project. The film follows the story of Alfie Parker, a teenager whose life has become tangled in exploitation and county lines drug trafficking. Frequently described as a “complex case”, Alfie’s experiences are examined through the lens of a multi-agency meeting, where professionals assess his situation, risks, and vulnerabilities. While practitioners discuss Alfie, the film centres Alfie’s own voice, revealing how manipulation, fear, and a lack of meaningful support contributed to his exploitation. Through his story, the film challenges the label of “alpha victim” and prompts viewers to reconsider the systems and assumptions that shape responses to young people at risk. This film is one element of a broader set of practitioner-focused resources being launched as part of the Crossing the Line project. Developed with care, sensitivity, and authenticity, the film was created in close collaboration with front-line practitioners and was produced by Digifish Limited.