Crime Stoppers pauses spread to 35 agencies, CBC finds

At least 11 Crime Stoppers programs across Canada have paused their intake of anonymous tips and 24 police units have suspended their partnerships with the organization, a CBC News tally showed Monday.

The pauses follow a CBC investigation published last week that reported anonymous tips tied to more than 60 Canadian Crime Stoppers chapters were compromised in a data hack last March. CBC said the exposed information included phone numbers, addresses and the names of some tipsters. Canada News Media reported the first police suspensions in Ontario and in Winnipeg.

Brantford police were among the latest to join, saying in a statement Monday that the decision was about ensuring safeguards protect the confidentiality of information and the anonymity of people who come forward, CBC reported. Winnipeg police said Friday that public trust is essential to any reporting platform and that they recognize the need for confidence in the security of what the public shares.

Near North Crime Stoppers, which takes tips in North Bay, Ont., said in a notice on its website that it has paused the acceptance of new tips by telephone, website and mobile app following a cybersecurity breach. The notice called the pause temporary and said it was needed while the situation is assessed and safeguards are put in place.

CBC reporters contacted 35 local chapters, including those with the most compromised tips. Ten replied or issued public statements and 25 had not responded. Most of those that replied confirmed they would no longer accept anonymous tips, and three referred CBC to their provincial or national associations.

New Brunswick Crime Stoppers was the only chapter to say it intends to continue its program, CBC reported.

The Association of Crime Stoppers Programs of Saskatchewan, which represents all five of that province’s programs, told CBC it is working to understand the scope of the breach and is pressing Navigate360 for information through legal counsel. Navigate360 is the company that CBC reported held the tip data. CBC said the company had not responded to its repeated requests for comment.

CBC also reported that David Forster, president of the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association, told local chapters in a memo not to give interviews to CBC or other outlets and to direct questions to the association.

The count is CBC’s. Canada News Media has not independently confirmed each suspension, and the list is changing as more police services and chapters make announcements.

Sources: CBC News, with earlier reporting by Canada News Media.

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