Barrie Police Service and York Regional Police have stopped promoting Crime Stoppers as a way to report crimes or give anonymous tips, CTV News reports, following a cybersecurity incident involving a third-party system used by the service across Canada.
Barrie police said they had acted immediately and acknowledged serious concerns for people who submitted tips expecting to stay anonymous. They said they were not aware of any effect on their own investigations. York Regional Police said it was suspending its partnership and reviewing the data included in the breach.
Both forces are asking people with information to contact them directly. The move follows a similar decision by Winnipeg police earlier this week, and police noted that while they try to protect tipsters' privacy, anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Source: CTV News
