Aloof copper now has new lead (7)
I believe the answer is:
distant
'aloof' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'copper now has new lead' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'copper' could be 'di' (detective inspector, type of copper) and 'di' is located in the answer.
'new' could be 'n' (common abbreviation eg NT for New Testament) and 'n' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'stat' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for distant that I've seen before include "Far from - reserved" , "Absent - coming from a far-away place" , "Aloof" , "Remote in time or place" , "Far apart in space or time" .)