Domestic violence calls 'spike' at Christmas

There was big jump in domestic violence calls over Christmas this year, Calgary police say.

"There was a bit of a spike from the two days, the 24th and 25th — a little over a 33 per cent rise in calls for service, domestic-related calls for service, over last year," Calgary police Sgt. John Guegon said.

Police expect a jump in calls over Christmas, but this year's increase was bigger than normal, Guegon said.

"Over the last four, three or four years, on average, domestic-related calls for service increase about from three to seven per cent, depending on the year," he said. "We expect it's going to happen."

The stress of the holidays seems to increase incidents, Guegon said.

He thinks part of the reason for the increase in calls is that people are more willing to call police than they used to be.