As if our city had not taken enough of a kicking in the last few days, the Bradford District Race Review, to be published tomorrow, will add enormous insult to already serious injury.

As our exclusive in-depth coverage reveals today, Bradford is a city deeply at odds with itself, lacking direction, leadership and trust.

The report talks of suspicion, fear, divisiveness and something it describes as "virtual" apartheid - although for many it is very real indeed.

Lord Ouseley's warts and all, tell-it-as-it-is approach is refreshing and welcome: he has allowed ordinary people to voice their opinions without unnecessary interpretation. Consequently, the section headed "What is wrong?" is bleak reading - although it contains few surprises for those with open eyes and honesty of thought.

It tells stories of alienation and discrimination; of local politicians "kowtowing" to community leaders in a "doing deals" culture to keep the peace; of "self-styled community leaders in league with establishment key people to maintain the status quo of control and segregation through fear, ignorance and threats"; of self-segregation, harassment, violence and resentment; of poor communication and consultation.

Many will recognise tales of deprivation and poverty; of exclusion from decision-making; of inconsistent and weak policing; of officers' failure to act directly for fear of being branded racist; of a lack of action on drugs; of jobs discrimination; of poor transport and filthy streets.

Then there is education, where the report identifies polarisation of communities along racial, ethnic and religious lines; little or no interaction between different communities; open racial conflict and harassment in schools; a lack of discipline; poor levels of achievement and insufficient efforts to teach an understanding of different cultures and religions across the district.

For anyone with Bradford's interests at heart it is difficult reading - and much of it can be seen as a backdrop to the violence which erupted in Bradford on Saturday.

But it must not be seen as an excuse: the kind of criminal thuggery our city witnessed cannot ever be excused.

Neither should it be seen - as it surely will be by some - as sticking up for the "poor Asians" at the expense of whites. These are issues which affect everybody, young or old, black or white, regardless of race or creed.

It matters to all of us if schools, the police, council leaders, employers, transport and bureaucracy are failing. All of us suffer in one way or another.

And all those who have signed up to the "send them home" creeds of racist groups like the National Front and British National Party must learn this lesson once and for all: they ARE home. Everyone who lives in this city is British and Bradfordian, whatever their ethnic background or religion.

In return, those few, young so-called Muslims who are so ready to fight for a cause that even they can't really explain must learn that their decent, law-abiding parents and neighbours have had enough of them. They want to be accepted as part of the wider community in the name of future peace and prosperity and those who damage that aim damage themselves worst of all.

Which brings us to the good news....

As Lord Ouseley identifies, Bradford has an enormous amount to be proud of. The vast majority of its people are open and friendly, caring and concerned. We have put a great deal of effort over many years into living in peace and harmony and into working out our differences.

The report identifies many successes, many very positive developments and achievements, many rock-steady bases on which to build a better future.

Its title, Community Pride Not Prejudice, points to the way ahead for all of us. What the city has failed to do so far is march forward with a united goal in mind.

If the recent riots have achieved anything, it is to prove beyond doubt that racial hatred is not inevitable. The outpourings of shame and apology from the local Asian communities have demonstrated clearly that the vast majority just want to get on with living together without fear or recrimination.

The Race Review - as well as highlighting some of the good practice that is already in place - makes some very constructive suggestions about how Bradford can start to deal with its problems.

It puts forward a programme based on the notion that we are all Bradfordians, urging a shared pride in our community and our ability to get on with each other.

It rightly puts the emphasis on developing our young people to be the standard-bearers of a new citizenship. It talks of accepting, celebrating and enjoying diversity rather than using it as an excuse for division.

And it focuses on education at all levels as the path to a working accommodation between people of all backgrounds.

It certainly isn't a perfect document and it doesn't provide a cure for all our ills. But it offers a way forward with the help of some clear signposts.

To some it may seem high-minded and preachy but, in fact, it is practical and positive.

Like it or not, there is nothing better on offer. What Bradford has to do is grasp the nettle, take ownership of its recommendations and put some energy and leadership into trying to make it work.

If we don't, we can look forward to a depressing and miserable future, punctuated at regular intervals by the kind of devastation that shook Bradford to its core last weekend.

The message to Bradford is clear: Wake up and give it a go - or die a long, slow and agonising death.