Don't go south to finish up (4)

(Source: London Evening Standard)

"south" ⇒ simply "s"

"to" ⇒ simply the letters "to"

"finish up" ⇒ the last letter of "up" ⇒ "p"

General meaning ⇒ don't go ⇒ opposite of go?

Answer ⇒ stop