Jim McCormick, How Was Jail Again For Selling The Fraudulent ADE651?

Man bailed in bomb detectors probe

(UKPA) – 6 hours ago

A man arrested by detectives investigating the supply and sale of allegedly ineffective bomb detecting devices to Iraq and Afghanistan has been released on bail.

Avon and Somerset Police said the 54-year-old from Merseyside, who had been held on suspicion of fraud by misrepresentation yesterday, was bailed pending further inquiries.

A police spokesman said: "Police have confirmed that the 54-year-old man from Merseyside arrested in connection with an investigation into the supply and sale of bomb detecting devices has been released on police bail, pending further enquiries."

The development followed the arrest on January 5 last year of Jim McCormick, 54, from Somerset, who was questioned on suspicion of fraud by misrepresentation.

Mr McCormick is the director of Wincanton-based company ATSC.

On January 22 last year the Government banned the export of a machine marketed as a bomb detector to Iraq and Afghanistan after the allegations emerged.

The then Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) announced the ban on the ADE651, marketed by ATSC, after an investigation for BBC2's Newsnight challenged the scientific basis for the technology it uses.

Britain's embassy in Baghdad raised concerns over the hand-held device with the Iraqi government which is reported to have bought large numbers of ADE651s for use at security checkpoints.

In a statement, BIS said: "Tests have shown that the technology used in the ADE651 and similar devices is not suitable for bomb detection. As non-military technology it does not need an export licence, and we would not normally need to monitor its sale and use abroad. However, it is clearly of concern that it is being used as bomb detection equipment."

A second Somerset man, 42, was arrested in July on suspicion of fraud offences and released on bail.