These figures make shocking reading, especially considering they don't take into account the numerous deaths in similar circumstances in cities outside of London.
While it is important to recognise that only a minority of young people carry a weapon and very few actually ever resort to using one, sadly there are parts of the UK where teenagers live in fear of being attacked by their peers.
One such area is Lambeth, the focus of this month's cover feature (see p16). Last year, five young people were killed within the south London borough's boundaries.
Reluctant to allow the deaths to go unchallenged, a coalition of local agencies has formulated an action plan to help combat the youth violence that blights the area. Refreshingly, the proposals do not just include the usual rhetoric about cracking down on crime and providing more police officers, but also seek to address the root causes behind why some young people turn to violence. The plan talks about increasing employment opportunities for those living in deprived areas, as well as a commitment to extending youth club opening times so that more young people will have somewhere safe to hang out.
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