Cop the cheat’s worktop (9)
I believe the answer is:
constable
'cop' is the definition.
(I know that cop can be written as constable)
'cheat's worktop' is the wordplay.
'cheat's' becomes 'con's' (con is a kind of cheat).
'worktop' becomes 'table' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'cons'+'table'='CONSTABLE'
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for constable that I've seen before include "Law enforcer" , "Policeman - landscape artist" , "English landscape painter for a policeman" , "See 1" , "He painted" .)