Crossword Genius

Declines to accept arrest of aspirants (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

wannabes

'aspirants' is the definition.
('wannabe' can be a synonym of 'aspirant')

'declines to accept arrest' is the wordplay.
'declines' becomes 'wanes' (wane is a kind of decline).
'to accept' indicates putting letters inside.
'arrest' becomes 'nab' ('nab' can be a synonym of 'arrest').
'wanes' going around 'nab' is 'WANNABES'.

'of' acts as a link.

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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