Filthy place where cops lose criminal (8)
I believe the answer is:
cesspool
'filthy place' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'cops lose criminal' is the wordplay.
'criminal' is an anagram indicator.
'cops'+'lose'='copslose'
'copslose' is an anagram of 'CESSPOOL'.
'where' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for cesspool that I've seen before include "Covered pit where sewage is stored" , "Covered collection of sewage" , "place of depravity" , "Sump" , "disgusting place" .)