Crossword Genius

Blows up former policeman at test centre (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

explodes

'blows up' is the definition.
('explode' can be a synonym of 'blow up')

'former policeman at test centre' is the wordplay.
'former' becomes 'ex'.
'policeman' becomes 'plod' (UK informal term for a police officer**).
'at' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'centre' indicates the central letters.
The central letters of 'test' are 'es'.
'ex'+'plod'+'es'='EXPLODES'

(Another definition for explodes that I've seen is " Bursts out violently".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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