Crossing the Line: Rethinking the ‘Alpha Victim’

This On Demand resource includes Crossing the Line, a powerful short film that asks us to rethink how we see victims and perpetrators when tackling county lines and gang involvement, and discussion about the themes explored in the film. 

Description

Crossing the Line is a powerful short film that asks its audience to rethink how they see victims and perpetrators when tackling county lines and gang involvement. It posits the notion of ‘Alpha Victims’ – victims who become perpetrators through fear, intimidation or debt bondage.

This webinar replay includes the short film and conversations with Dr Laura Bainbridge and Dr Amy Loughery (Vulnerability and Policing Futures Research Centre) to discuss what their county lines research tells us about victims and perpetrators and the need for a cohesive, joined up response from multi-agency teams.

Whether you're a safeguarding practitioner, educator, in the criminal justice system, or work with youth in the community, this replay and the Crossing the Line film will make you think about your role in responding to children sometimes labelled ‘Alpha Victims’.

The Crossing the Line short film is included in the replay by kind permission of the Vulnerability and Policing Futures Research Centre.

These resources will help you:

• Reflect on the complex and nuanced discussion around ideas of ‘victim’ and ‘perpetrator’
• Develop clarity on your thoughts and feelings about advocating for ‘Alpha Victims’
• Practise critical self‑awareness in our professional roles
• Better understand the challenges and pressures facing other professionals working across the multidisciplinary team
• Resist adultification
• Reimagine safeguarding as a practice rooted in justice, care, and cultural humility

Further reading