Cornwall, ON – The Cornwall Police Service (CPS) has temporarily stopped using the Crime Stoppers platform following a reported data breach involving the third-party reporting system used by Crime Stoppers programs across Canada.
According to a CBC News investigation, more than 1.5 million tips submitted to Crime Stoppers programs in Canada over roughly 25 years were among data stolen in a March 2026 hack of P3 Global Intel, a U.S.-based tip platform owned by Navigate360. CBC reported that about half of those tips contained personally identifiable information.
The CPS says the move was made out of an abundance of caution while more information about the incident becomes available.
“Public trust is essential to effective policing, and people who come forward with information must have confidence that their safety and privacy are taken seriously,” said Deputy Chief Chad Maxwell. “We recognize the concerns this incident may raise and have taken precautionary steps while we work to better understand the situation.”
Crime Stoppers operates independently from the CPS.
Police say they are reviewing available information to understand the scope and potential impact of the breach. As of the release, the CPS had not received confirmation that information submitted through the local Crime Stoppers program was affected.
Cornwall is one of several Ontario police services, including Toronto, Ottawa, York Region, Halton Region, Windsor, Kingston and Hamilton, to pause their use of Crime Stoppers, CBC News reported.
How to report in the meantime
Anyone who wants to report a crime, suspicious activity or information about an ongoing investigation is encouraged to contact the CPS directly.
The CPS says it handles personal information in line with its privacy and information security obligations. However, reporting directly to police may not offer the same anonymity as Crime Stoppers.
- Emergency: 9-1-1
- Non-emergency: 613-932-2110
- Online: CornwallPolice.ca
Questions about the breach, the scope of any affected information and the response should go to the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association ([email protected]).
The CPS says it will continue to monitor developments and assess any potential impact on police operations.
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