Woman found dead in Fratton leading to manslaughter arrest understood to be homeless

The female’s body was found near Kingston Park just after 10am on Tuesday – close to homeless refuge Hope House on Milton Road where she is thought to have slept.

The area was cordoned off as an investigation was launched after the woman was pronounced dead at the scene following a ‘medical episode’.

Police were seen leaving Hope House while a spokesperson for the shelter told The News: ‘We’ve been told not to say anything because there is an ongoing investigation by police.’

Locals said homeless people were notorious for congregating in trees at Kingston Park, as well as a variety of other spots in the area – leaving many exasperated with drinking, fighting and anti-social behaviour on a daily basis.

One lady, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘We’ve had stabbings down her before with all the druggies. They hang out in the trees and bushes and drink their booze and do whatever else they do.

‘A boy got chased and stabbed by one of the druggies down here after walking past them.

‘The homeless can’t stay at the shelter all day so they tend to come down here from about 4pm. I wouldn’t come out here at night. It’s all very sad.’

Craig Sigsworth, 40, said: ‘It’s shock to hear about something like this. I go running early in the morning and you see the homeless in the children’s play area. But I’ve never seen any major problems here.’

Meanwhile, residents close to Hope House, said the homeless people are a problem in the area.

One said: ‘I see them fighting or shoving each other on the main road (Milton Road) a lot.’

Another added: ‘It’s obviously sad to hear of someone dying but we’ve had problems with them and have had to get police to move them on.

‘They make lots of noise and are a nuisance, hanging around near where people live and drink in the shop doorways.

‘The police don’t seem to want to know. The truth is they don’t have enough staff.’

A spokeswoman from Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘Officers were called at 10.16am this morning to reports of a woman suffering a medical episode on Milton Road, Portsmouth.

‘The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

‘A man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and he’s currently in police custody.’