Fugitives better stopping close to trouble spots (8)
I believe the answer is:
escapees
'fugitives' is the definition.
(escapee is a kind of fugitive)
'better stopping close to trouble spots' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'better' could be 'cap' (I've seen this before) and 'cap' is found in the answer.
'spots' could be 'sees' (I've seen this before) and 'sees' is found in the remaining letters.
A single letter 'e' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for escapees that I've seen before include "They've run away from confinement" , "Gaol-breakers" , "They got away" , "They get away from confinement" , "Those getting free (E, not R)" .)