By Dr Amy Loughery, Dr Chris Devany and Dr Laura Bainbridge. Published 6 May 2026.
Following our County lines research project, the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre has launched a package of practitioner-focused training resources, including a 10-minute film. Crossing the Line: Rethinking the Alpha Victim explores vulnerability and exploitation in the context of multi-agency responses to children and young people involved in county lines. In this blog, the project team explores the making of the film and how they used lived experience data, professional collaboration, and creative input to bring the experiences of county lines ‘alpha victims’ to life.
County lines research project
County lines drug trafficking involves the movement of drugs between urban and rural areas, often facilitated by the exploitation of children and young people who are used as ‘runners’ or dealers. County lines operatives often target particularly vulnerable children, such as those who are care-experienced or those who have had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Responding to county lines-related child exploitation has become a key focus for police and child safeguarding practitioners.
Our county lines research project involved a total of 117 semi-structured interviews with officers from 44 of 45 police forces in the UK, with professionals from statutory agencies and NGOs, and with people with lived experience (PWLE) of drug market-related exploitation. The data showed that young people involved in county lines are frequently positioned in contradictory ways: as both offenders and victims.
Within this tension lies the concept of the “alpha victim” – a term used to describe individuals who are initially groomed into county lines but over time are given more responsibility and may appear complicit, whilst navigating complex forms of coercion. Crossing the Line reflects lived experiences captured in the research. It tells the story of a young person navigating exploitation, fear, and limited choices, and explores how labels such as “complex case” or “high risk” can obscure lived realities and shape professional responses.
Co-production with police and professionals
A defining feature of the film’s development was the team’s commitment to co-production. From the outset, the research team collaborated closely with police officers, local authority officers, youth practitioners, and independent advisors – including a children’s author – to shape the narrative and its practical relevance.
Crucially, the co-production process allowed practitioners to challenge and refine the script. Police officers contributed insights into investigative processes and police systems, while social care professionals highlighted the importance of trauma-informed approaches and the challenges of complex safeguarding. This iterative dialogue ensured that the film remained both authentic and critical.
This tension between professional interpretation and lived experience is at the heart of the film’s message. Contributions from professionals and PWLE ensured that Alfie’s story did not fall into stereotypes or simplistic narratives and instead reflects the rationality and humanity of those navigating exploitation. By juxtaposing these perspectives, the film invites viewers to question how vulnerability is constructed within systems, and whose voices are prioritised.
Production and filming with Digifish
Turning a co-produced narrative into a compelling film required a creative partner capable of balancing sensitivity with storytelling impact. This role was taken on by Digifish, a York-based production company. The project team worked closely with Digifish to shape the final script, ensuring it reflected both the research findings and the realities of frontline practice. This collaboration extended to key production decisions, including the selection of actors and filming locations.
The project team remained actively involved throughout the production process. They attended filming days and brought props to support the realism of the scenes. Settings, dialogue, and character interactions were all designed to reflect professional experiences. This authenticity is crucial to the film’s effectiveness as a training tool.
Creating a package of practitioner-focused resources
While the film is a powerful tool, it is not a standalone resource and forms part of a comprehensive package of resources designed to support learning, reflection, and changes in practice. Together, these materials provide a structured framework for professional development.
The resources are designed to be flexible and adaptable, with application to a diverse range of professions. Whether policing, social care, education, or community organisations, the materials encourage participants to critically examine labels – such as ‘alpha victim’ – and consider their implications. Professionals are invited to reflect on how systems can better recognise and respond to the complexities of exploitation, the balance between criminalisation and safeguarding, and the importance of building trust and understanding with children and families.
Crossing the Line represents the Centre’s commitment to translating innovative research into real impact. By centring the voices of children and challenging established narratives, the project invites practitioners and policymakers to rethink how they understand and respond to exploitation, risk, and survival. In doing so, it offers not just a critique of existing systems, but a pathway towards more nuanced, empathetic, and effective responses to vulnerability and exploitation.