Police have launched a murder investigation after a man was found dead inside a Southampton premises last night.

Officers were executing a search warrant on a property on Sentinel Hill, near the Gibbs Hill lighthouse, at around 9.30pm when they came across an “unresponsive male”.

Initial reports indicated that the man could have suffered stab wounds, however a police spokesman was unable to confirm details of the injuries suffered by the man last night.

The spokesman told The Royal Gazette: “At around 9.30pm on Thursday night police officers were executing a search warrant in the Southampton area when they discovered a unresponsive male, believed to be in his 20s, under suspicious circumstances.

“A full investigation is now under way. At this stage we are working to contact the next of kin and as soon as we do that we will be able to make an effective identification.”

The spokesman confirmed that the body was found inside a property on Sentinel Hill in Southampton, but no further details were released at the crime scene.

In the aftermath of the incident several police cars remained parked in the area of St Anne’s Road and Sentinel Hill.

At the time this paper went to press last night, the spokesman said that no arrests had been made.

Anyone with any information about the incident should call the Serious Crime Unit on 247-1739 or the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 800-8477.

Last night, the police spokesman said it was too early to confirm whether the dead male lived in the property in which he was found.

Meanwhile, police officers placed a cordon around the property.

Forensic officers arrived at the crime scene late yesterday evening and are expected to undertake a full forensic search of the property as part of the investigation.