Niagara police suspend partnership with Crime Stoppers after data breach

The Niagara police department announced on Friday afternoon that it is suspending its partnership with Crime Stoppers after a third-party data breach.

The news came after a number of other police forces in Ontario — including in Guelph, Kingston, Hamilton and Halton regions — had announced they were suspending working with the tips-based program.

Crime Stoppers platforms are operated by Navigate360, an American-based company.

This week, Toronto Crime Stoppers said the tip software it has used since 2018 was hit by a data breach in March, and more than 176,000 tips were included in the stolen data.

READ MORE: Hamilton, Halton police pause use of Crime Stoppers program after data breach

Niagara police said in a media release that it had been made aware that some data related to Niagara was included in the breach.

“We recognize the seriousness of the data breach, particularly given the importance of protecting the anonymity and safety of individuals who provide information to assist police investigations,” read the statement.

“As a precautionary measure, the Niagara Regional Police Service has suspended its use of Crime Stoppers while we await further information regarding the scope and potential impact of the incident,” the statement continued.

Niagara police said it will continue to receive information about crime and public safety concerns.

Members of the public who wish to report information and remain anonymous are asked to call 289-248-1058.

In an emergency or where there is an immediate threat to public safety, the public is advised to call 911.

“We recognize the important role that members of the public play in helping police keep our communities safe. People who come forward with information need to have confidence in the channels available to them, and we are committed to carefully assessing the circumstances surrounding this incident before determining our next steps,” the police service said.