Crossword Genius

Female police officer and personnel (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

distaff

'female' is the definition.
(I know that female can be written as distaff)

'police officer and personnel' is the wordplay.
'police officer' becomes 'di' (abbreviation for Detective Inspector).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'personnel' becomes 'staff' (staff is a kind of personnel).
'di'+'staff'='DISTAFF'

(Other definitions for distaff that I've seen before include "(referring to the women)" , "Spinner's rod" , "Stick on which wool is wound before spinning" , "Female - rod on which wool or flax is wound before spinning" , "Traditionally feminine" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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