Every year police officer gets protection (4)

I believe the answer is:

pads

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'officer gets protection' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'every year police' is the wordplay.
'every year' becomes 'pa' (per annum).
'police' becomes 'ds' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'pa'+'ds'='PADS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pads that I've seen before include "Walks softly" , "Blocks" , "Apartments; cushions" , "Cricket leg-guards" , "Quarters" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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