Encourage in crime (4)
I believe the answer is:
abet
'encourage in crime' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for abet that I've seen before include "Give aid to" , "Aid (in wrongdoing)" , "Beat (anag.)" , "Help to do something wrong" , "Crookedly endorse" .)