Sault Ste. Marie Police suspend Crime Stoppers participation after platform hack
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has temporarily halted its involvement in the Crime Stoppers program following a cyberattack on the organization’s reporting platform, which is not linked to police systems.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service announced it is pausing its participation in the Crime Stoppers program after a cybersecurity breach affected the reporting platform used by Crime Stoppers across Canada. The police department emphasized that the compromised platform is separate from its own information systems and infrastructure.
"We recognize the seriousness of this incident, particularly given the importance of protecting the anonymity, privacy, and safety of individuals who provide information to assist police investigations," the release said. The department added that, out of an abundance of caution, it will review the scope and potential impact of the breach before deciding when to resume cooperation with Crime Stoppers.
Members of the public who wish to report crimes or safety concerns are being directed to contact Sault Police directly at 705-949-6300, visit a police station in person, or use the department’s online reporting tool at saultpolice.ca/reporting. The notice clarified that direct police reporting does not offer the same anonymity as the Crime Stoppers system.
The police service will continue to monitor developments and has invited questions about the incident, its possible effects, and response measures to be directed to the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association.