Portsmouth residents offer 'deepest condolences' after discovery of dead man in the city centre leaves many 'shocked'

Unicorn Road, which was closed due to the discovery of a man's body on Tuesday afternoon.

RESIDENTS and visitors around Portsmouth city centre have extended their 'deepest condolences’ to the loved-ones of a man found dead in a street near Commercial Road.

Emergency services were called to the scene beside the Cascades Shopping Centre at around 3.26pm on Monday afternoon, after members of the public raised the alarm.

Police initially identified the incident occurring in Charlotte Street, but a representative has now confirmed that the discovery was made in the pathway running alongside Unicorn Road.

Hampshire Constabulary was unable to confirm the circumstances leading up to the man’s death, but a representative from the force confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage, with a file being prepared for the coroner.

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The incident has left residents and employees at nearby businesses shocked and wishing to offer their condolences to anyone who knew the deceased man.

Andy Philip, manager at the Cascades Shopping Centre, said: ‘We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the individual’s friends and family.’

In nearby Edinburgh Road, staff at hairdressers Crew said they were surprised that had not seen any indication of an emergency yesterday afternoon.

Mark Symonds, co-owner of the hairdressing parlour, said: ‘It's a terrible shock. It’s more of a shock that I haven’t heard more about it.

‘It was very, very quiet down here yesterday. I am surprised - I would have thought someone would have seen something.

Staff members in nearby charity shops said that customers and staff had heard about the incident through The News’s coverage – even though the incident occurred just a short walk away.

One staff member, who asked not to be named and has worked in the area for more than nine months, said: ‘It's usually a busy area. You have cars going past all day. Customers have asked about it and I don't know anything. We never see police around here.’

Coroners must investigate a death if they believe that the individual died a violent or unnatural death, the cause of death is unknown, or someone died in a state-run facility like a prison or police custody.