Detectives have the ability to alarm (6)

I believe the answer is:

dismay

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'alarm' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'detectives have the ability' is the wordplay.
'detectives' becomes 'dis' (Detective Inspectors, DIs).
'have the ability' becomes 'may' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'dis'+'may'='DISMAY'

'to' is the link.

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(Other definitions for dismay that I've seen before include "Fill with consternation" , "Disappointment" , "Consternation, trepidation" , "Feeling of surprise and discouragement" , "upset" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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