AS a still-tense Burnley recovers from the shocking violence of the weekend's race riots, new controversy is provoked by the arrest and injury last night of Commission for Racial Equality member Shahid Malik.

Thus far, there is only his account of the incident to be had -- though it is confidently stated, with Mr Malik citing the availability of scores of witnesses to support it.

It is that he was struck on the head by a police riot shield as he approached officers to assure them situation was calm as groups of young Asians gathered in Abel Street.

What is not disputed is that Mr Malik was arrested, that he was injured and needed hospital treatment.

But whatever the precise nature of the events, in the strained climate now prevailing in Burnley it is crucial that people heed what Mr Malik himself and other community leaders are rightly and responsibly stressing -- that this incident must not be a catalyst for renewed violence, no matter what anger it may have provoked.

That it needs to be investigated fully and fairly is beyond dispute. Indeed, in view of the mistrust of the police in some quarters following the weekend's events, it would be wise and sensible for the investigation to be open and independent.

But until the inquiry into the incident has run its course, there is no point in anyone demonstrating their anger on the streets. The only way forward is to rely on the due process of the law -- a course which the victim of the injury himself makes clear is the only way for it to be dealt with. More violence will solve nothing.

And although Burnley experienced a night of tension and a clutch of arrests for public order offences, there was at least no repeat of the weekend's extremes.

In addition to this step forward, we have clear messages from community leaders that the violence must stop and that a determined drive -- as evidenced by the task force being set up -- is needed to put right what went wrong. Let that task commence at once.