Crossword Genius

Cloth worker becoming police officer (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sergeant

'police officer' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'cloth worker' is the wordplay.
'cloth' becomes 'serge' (serge is a kind of cloth).
'worker' becomes 'ant' (worker is a type of ant).
'serge'+'ant'='SERGEANT'

'becoming' is the link.

(Other definitions for sergeant that I've seen before include "Pepper, say" , "Man in charge" , "one with stripes" , "military man" , "Rank above corporal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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