Crossword Genius

Frantic detectives directed across river (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

distraught

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'frantic' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'detectives directed across river' is the wordplay.
'detectives' becomes 'dis' (Detective Inspectors, DIs).
'directed across river' becomes 'traught' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'dis'+'traught'='DISTRAUGHT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for distraught that I've seen before include "crazy" , "Very worried and upset" , "wild" , "in a state" , "At one's wits - end" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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