Criminal cut and ran, say, for refuge (9)
I believe the answer is:
sanctuary
'refuge' is the definition.
('sanctuary' can be a synonym of 'refuge')
'criminal cut and ran say' is the wordplay.
'criminal' indicates an anagram.
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another (I've seen this in other clues).
'ran'+'say'='ransay'
'cut' after 'ransay' is 'ransaycut'.
'ransaycut' anagrammed gives 'SANCTUARY'.
'for' is the link.
(Other definitions for sanctuary that I've seen before include "As was Spartacus; arch anti (anag.)" , "Area around the altar of a church for the clergy" , "Holy place - asylum" , "A shelter from danger or hardship" , "Asylum - refuge" .)