Edmonton police are attributing a jump in domestic violence complaints to a higher level of awareness.

Police received more than 3,300 calls in the first six months of this year, an 11 per cent increase over 2011.

"(The increase) may be actually a good thing," said acting Inspector Darcy Strang. "We've got a lot of domestic violence education going on. I believe they're coming to us more often if they're a victim."

Patricia Garrett, with the Wings of Providence Society, which runs an emergency shelter, isn't sure why the number of calls to police jumped.

"Possibly that means people are just feeling free to call the police — if that's the right word — or feeling they're getting some more information on who to call if they need assistance if there's been domestic violence."