Ottawa Police pause Crime Stoppers programs after a data breach - CityNews Ottawa

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has temporarily suspended its use of Crime Stoppers after a reported data breach on the organization's platforms.

OPS made the decision out of an abundance of caution to protect the anonymity and safety of those who report crimes.

The data breach occurred on Crime Stoppers platforms across Canada; it operates independently of OPS and is not connected to their internal systems.

Review and next steps

Police say they are reviewing the incident and will provide an update when available. For now, people are encouraged to report crimes directly to OPS.

Members of the public looking to provide a tip can do so by leaving a message after dialing 613-236-1222 and entering extension number 3000. The caller will hear two rings followed by an answer from the voicemailbox.

In an emergency, call 9-1-1. Non-emergency incidents can be reported by calling 613-236-1222 or through OPS online reporting options, where applicable, at ottawapolice.ca/report.