A growing number of Southampton residents have taken to social media to express concerns about suspicious business activities across the city, with particular focus on establishments that appear to operate with minimal legitimate custom.
The discussion, which gained traction on the city’s Reddit community, began when user FreshFriendship5826 highlighted unusual activities at a beauty school on London Road, noting the frequent presence of “big 4×4 Mercedes” parking on pavements despite little apparent business activity.
The conversation quickly expanded to other areas of the city, with particular attention paid to Shirley high street and Oxford Street, where residents noted the unusual concentration of Turkish barbers, vape shops, bars, and cafes, many of which reportedly see minimal customer traffic.
The concerns come as police data indicates high concentrations of incidents in the city centre, including Above Bar Street and the London Road/Bedford Place areas. Local authorities have been actively working to address these issues, with GO! Southampton’s security team collaborating with law enforcement to monitor the city centre and Bedford Place/London Road area.
The phenomenon isn’t unique to Southampton. Across the UK, there has been widespread discussion about the rapid proliferation of certain types of businesses, though experts caution against jumping to conclusions. As one online commenter noted, “Everyone thinks everything on the high street is money laundering. There isn’t that much money to launder. Some things are just what they seem.”
Local law enforcement has been taking action against criminal activity in these areas, with recent successes including the prosecution of repeat offenders in the Bedford Place area. The city has also implemented various initiatives to improve security and legitimate business activity, including Safer Business Action Days focused on reducing retail crime and anti-social behaviour.
A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary encouraged residents to report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities through official channels rather than speculating on social media.
Are you worries or feel uncomfortable with certain shops and areas in Southampton? Let us know what you think
