The impact of improving access to support services for victims of domestic violence on demand for services and victim outcomes

 We conducted a randomised controlled trial of an intervention designed to assist victims of domestic violence in accessing non-police support services. The intervention led to a 22% decrease in the fraction of victims providing a witness statement to police. Witness statements are an important piece of evidence and a key input in the prosecution of perpetrators. Despite this, we do not find a significant change in perpetrator arrest and convictions to in reported future violence. Survey reponses provide evidence of an increase in non-police service use, a reduction in future victimisation risk, but also a potential decrease in short-run well-being.