Force to cut back — cool (6)
I believe the answer is:
police
'force' is the definition.
(police force is a kind of force)
'cut back cool' is the wordplay.
'cut' becomes 'lop' (lopping is a kind of cutting**).
'back' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'cool' becomes 'ice' (icing is a kind of cooling).
'lop' backwards is 'pol'.
'pol'+'ice'='POLICE'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for police that I've seen before include "Keep watch on" , "Limbs of the law" , "Crime fighters" , "Civil force" , "Bobby" .)