Crossword Genius

Copper maybe making a name with the police (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

metal

'copper maybe' is the definition.
(I know that copper is a type of metal)

'a name with the police' is the wordplay.
'a name' becomes 'al' ().
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'the police' becomes 'met' (London Metropolitan Police).
'al' after 'met' is 'METAL'.

'making' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for metal that I've seen before include "tin, perhaps" , "Tungsten, for example" , "Solid material, a good conductor of heat and electricity" , "Copper possibly" , "Eg, titanium" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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