Calgary police will continue accepting information through Crime Stoppers despite a data breach affecting the platform used to manage confidential tips, while Lethbridge police have suspended their participation pending a federal privacy investigation.
The contrasting decisions follow the disclosure that an unauthorised third party accessed systems operated by Navigate360, the US-based provider of the P3 Tips platform.
The incident has raised questions about the exposure of identifying information included in submissions to a service intended to support anonymous reporting.
Calgary police cite additional security measures
In a statement to Postmedia, the Calgary Police Service said it had contacted Crime Stoppers Canada about the breach and was satisfied that additional security measures offered strong protection for the database.
The service nevertheless acknowledged potential risks to Calgarians and said it was continuing to assess the incident’s local impact.
Calgary police also stressed that Crime Stoppers operates independently of police information systems. According to the service, information passed to investigators is stripped of identifying details before it reaches them.
That distinction separates the security of police databases from the potential exposure of information held by the external tip-management provider. Calgary’s statement did not establish how many local submissions, if any, were affected.
Lethbridge pauses program pending investigation
Lethbridge Police Service announced its suspension on October 30, saying it would review the findings of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada before deciding whether to resume participation.
The service said it did not yet know whether people who submitted information through the Southern Alberta Crime Stoppers chapter had been affected.
Lethbridge encouraged residents to report crimes or public safety concerns directly to police, while warning that direct reporting does not carry the anonymity associated with Crime Stoppers. Lethbridge Police Service
What Navigate360 disclosed about the breach
Navigate360’s October 23 notice said it became aware of suspicious activity on or about March 18, 2026.
An investigation subsequently determined that an unauthorised third party had accessed a system and copied some data between November 21, 2025, and March 5, 2026.
The company said it introduced additional safeguards, engaged cybersecurity specialists and began reviewing the affected data to identify its impact.
Its broader breach notice listed potentially affected information including names, contact details and other sensitive personal data. The information involved varies by individual; the notice does not establish that every Canadian tipster had all those data categories exposed. streetinsider.com
Navigate360 said it had found no evidence of misuse for fraud or identity theft. That statement does not resolve every concern about the confidentiality or personal safety implications of exposed crime tips.
Federal watchdog examines security safeguards
Canada’s Privacy Commissioner announced an investigation into Navigate360 on October 27.
The inquiry will examine the safeguards in place when the breach occurred and assess the company’s compliance with federal private-sector privacy legislation.
The commissioner’s office said it had contacted both Navigate360 and Crime Stoppers. Its engagement includes examining containment measures, efforts to reduce risks to affected people and steps intended to prevent another incident.
The investigation is directed at the commercial platform provider. The watchdog has not announced findings establishing whether Navigate360 breached privacy law. priv.gc.ca
Other police services have also suspended participation
According to the Calgary Herald report, police services in Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor, Guelph and Winnipeg have paused their use of the program. Several local Crime Stoppers organisations, including Saskatchewan’s five chapters, have also suspended operations.
The differing responses show that continued availability depends on the local police service and Crime Stoppers chapter.
Calgary’s decision to remain involved represents its assessment of the measures introduced so far. Lethbridge has chosen to await the federal investigation before reconsidering participation.
What affected residents are being told
Calgary police advised anyone concerned about whether their information was affected to contact Crime Stoppers directly.
Anyone who believes they have been threatened or faces a safety concern connected to the breach should contact police in their jurisdiction.
The Calgary Crime Stoppers website has also posted a notice urging people not to include personal details in submissions.
The outstanding questions include the extent of local exposure, the nature of identifying information contained in affected tips and whether the provider’s safeguards met its legal obligations. The federal investigation is expected to examine those security obligations, while individual services continue assessing their participation.
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