Murder investigation launched as body found in Northampton centre
Emergency services discovered the body of a man on a bench near a canal footpath
Last updated 2nd Aug 2025
A murder inquiry has been launched after a man was found fatally injured near the River Nene in Northampton town centre.
Northamptonshire Police was called by East Midlands Ambulance Service at about 6.30am yesterday (1 August).
Emergency services discovered the body of a man, who was in his 50s, on a bench near the canal footpath behind Auctioneers Court.
A forensic post mortem examination is due to take place today (August 2), at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Torie Harrison, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: "Our investigation is continuing at pace and we have a dedicated team of officers working hard to establish the circumstances that have led to the man’s death.
“Our thoughts and condolences are firmly with his family at this time and they are being supported by specially trained officers from the investigation team.
“Officers have been in the area today carrying out house-to-house enquiries and have spoken with a number of people. However, we are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward and we’re particularly keen to locate any CCTV or other camera footage of the nearby area.
“There are a large number of apartments that overlook the river and the area near to where the man was found, and anyone from these residences, or anywhere else nearby, who may have camera footage or any other information, is urged to contact police as soon as possible. Any information, no matter how small, can help us piece together exactly what happened.
“We will continue to have an increased police presence in the area, and neighbourhood officers will be carrying out high-visibility patrols throughout the weekend to offer reassurance and support the community. If you have any concerns, please do speak to an officer.”