Whoever has watched the presentation of Andy Mueller Maguhn at 36C3 – Technical aspects of the surveillance in and around the Ecuadorian embassy in London will understand that Number 18 Hans Crescent was housing part of the CIA surveillance operation against Julian Assange.

On the 19th of February 2018 during our regular solidarity vigil presence Wendy and I saw that street works were taking place and the pavement where we normally stood was being dug up. We asked the workers what they were doing and they explained that they were increasing the electricity voltage supply 4 no 18 Hans Crescent from 100 to 200 amps. We had already observed that the building housed a first floor flat whose windows were permanently open rain or shine. Why would electricity voltage be increased for this particular building? Was equipment housed there that required higher voltage to operate? My curiosity was roused and so I tweeted about it.

From 100 to 200 amps https://t.co/4Nvlx7eMLO

— Emmy Butlin (@greekemmy) February 19, 2018

Now it’s time to explore more about those street works and see whether the local council, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, that licences all utility companies to perform street works has information on this particular dig. So I have done a FOIA requesting the information:

Dear Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea,

On 19th of February 2018 in the vicinity of number 18 Hans Crescent Power supply works took place involving digging up the pavement. The workman said that the works took place for increasing the electricity voltage supply for no 18 Hans Crescent from 100 to 200 amps.

Your website here: https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/parking-transpor… states that through your Street works register you are responsible for co-ordinating and monitoring street works carried out by utility companies. This includes maintaining a register of all planned street works with information about:

• the utility company doing the work
• planned start and ends dates
• location of the works
• a description of the works

Could you please provide me this information for the works on Hans Crescent that I mention above.

As soon as I get a reply, I will update the blog post.