The number of murders in London in 2018 has risen to its highest level for a decade.

The Metropolitan Police said officers are committed to a "relentless pursuit of those who choose to be violent".

As of December 30, there have been 132 murders in London, 17 of these in southwest London. Over half (nine) of the murders in southwest London were stabbings.

The Mayor of London has been told to take 'drastic action' in 2019 by the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee (LAPCC) chairman Steve O'Connell. Below is a full list of those who have had their lives taken this year.

Alfie Hoare, February 4, Croydon

 

The three-year-old was found "unresponsive" and in cardiac arrest at his home in Croydon on February 1.

He was taken to a central London hospital but died three days later.

Sabri Chibani, February 11, Streatham

 

Mr Chibani was stabbed in the chest by flatmate Ronny Padilla in Streatham, south London, on February 11. He was 19 years old.

Padilla was found guilty of murder at a trial in November and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Kelva Smith, March 5, Croydon

 

Mr Smith died after being stabbed in Croydon after a row over a motorbike. He was 20 years old. His aunt said London's issue with knife crime was "out of control".

Tyrone Farquharson, 20, was convicted of his murder in October.

Laura Figueria, March 5, Twickenham

Ms Figueira, 47, was found dead at her home having suffered stab wounds.

Later the same day, her husband and two young sons were discovered at the foot of Birling Gap cliffs, East Sussex.

All three had died from multiple injuries consistent with falling from a height.

 

Nikolai Glushkov, March 12, New Malden

 

Russian businessman Nikolai Glushkov, 68, was found dead at his home in New Malden. He had been strangled.

His death came a week after the Novichok poisonings of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury.

Police later disclosed that they Mr Glushkov had survived a suspected poisoning himself in 2013.

David Potter, March 26, Tooting High Street

Police found 50-year-old David Potter dead inside a house in Tooting High Street on March 26.

He had been stabbed in the neck.

Malachi Brooks, March 28, Battersea

 

Mr Brooks was a 21-year-old south London carpenter. He was found stabbed in Surrey Lane, Battersea, on 28 March.

Three men were later convicted of arson after a car used by his attackers was set alight.

Devoy Stapleton, April 1, Wandsworth

Twenty-year-old Devoy Stapleton was stabbed as he left a bar in Wandsworth and later died on April 1.

 

Aaron Springett, April 20, Morden

 

Mr Springett, 32, collapsed after a street fight in Morden. He was taken to hospital, but died a day later.

In November, Joseph Ankrah, 31, was sentenced to seven years in prison for his manslaughter.

Arunesh Thangarajah, May 20, Mitcham

 

Arunesh Thangarajah, 28, was a Sri Lankan national of no fixed address.

He was stabbed in Mitcham and died at the scene.

Malik Chattun, August 5, Kingston

 

Malik Chattun was killed in Kingston upon Thames on August 5.

Police believe he died after a brawl involving up to 10 people.

Simonne Samantha Kerr, August 5, Wandsworth

 

Ms Kerr was a 31-year-old nurse who had appeared on Britain's Got Talent in an NHS choir.

She was stabbed to death in Wandsworth on 15 August.

Eric Michels, August 18, Chessington

 

Born in the US before moving to Britain in the 1980s, Mr Michels worked in human resources for the energy firm SEE.

He was found dead at his home in Chessington on August 18. Police are treating his death as murder. He had apparently died from an overdose of the drug GHB.

Carole Harrison, August 22, Teddington

 

Ms Harrison died in a house fire in Teddington on August 22. Police began a murder investigation after tests revealed that the 73-year-old had been attacked before her death.

William Kydd, 54, was charged with her murder in November.

 

Ian Tomlin, October 17, Battersea

 

Father-of-two Mr Tomlin, 46, was killed outside flats in Battersea on 17 October.

It was reported that he had been confronting drug dealers. Mr Tomlin died from a blunt force trauma to his head.

Malcolm Mide-Madariola, November 2, Clapham South

 

Malcolm Mide-Madariola was a student at a St Francis Xavier (SFX) College in Clapham South.

He was stabbed outside Clapham South Underground station in the middle of the afternoon on November 2. He was 17 years old.

Tanseen Sheikh, November 12, Balham

Ms Sheikh was found dead at an address in Balham on November 12. She was 62 years old.

Carl Whitehead, November 17, Teddington

Mr Whitehead, 58, was found dead at an address in Teddington on November 17. A post-mortem revealed he had died of injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.