Coerce the police (5)
I believe the answer is:
force
This clue is a double definition.
'coerce' is the first definition.
(I know that coerce can be written as force)
'police' is the second definition.
(the force can refer to the police force)
'the' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for force that I've seen before include "Strength - compulsion" , "Might" , "Vehemence" , "Energy" , "Lean on" .)