Lambeth has been identified as having the highest murder rate of any London borough in the last five years.

According to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by The Guardian newspaper, 79 people were killed in the borough from 2006 to September 2011. Newham was second in the list, with 56 murders, followed by Hackney with 42. The boroughs of Richmond upon Thames and Kingston upon Thames ranked bottom of the table, with just one murder and four murders respectively.

Streatham MP Chuka Umunna said the statistics were a "stark reminder" of the violence on London’s streets.

He said: "One life lost is one too many, and is a tragedy for friends and family as well as our community as a whole. We must unite, sending a clear message that this violence is unacceptable and we will not stand by and let it happen."

Of those killed in Lambeth, over half were less than 30 years old and nearly one in five were aged between 11 and 20.

The most recent person to be killed in the borough was Daniel Famakinwa, 20, of Halley Road, Manor Park, east London, who was shot dead at a West Norwood bus stop in August. Four people, including a 17-year-old boy, have since been charged with his murder.

Jurors at the murder trial of 34-year-old Solomon Sarfo, who died in Tilson Gardens in February, failed to reach a verdict two weeks ago. There will be a retrial at a later date.

Five boys are currently standing trial at the Old Bailey for the murder of 15-year-old Zac Olumegbon, who was fatally stabbed outside Park Campus school, West Norwood in July 2010. They deny the allegation.

Police are still hunting the killer of 23-year-old Ricardo Cunha from West Norwood, who was shot dead at the window of his family home in Pondfield House, Elder Road in September 2010.

Anyone with information should call 0208 7214005, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.