Group in silence around north (4)
I believe the answer is:
gang
'group' is the definition.
(a gang is a group of people)
'silence around north' is the wordplay.
'silence' becomes 'gag' (gagging is a kind of silencing).
'around' is an insertion indicator.
'north' becomes 'N' (abbreviation).
'gag' placed around 'n' is 'GANG'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for gang that I've seen before include "Criminal association" , "Informal body of friends" , "Organized group of workmen" , "go to Scotland" , "Band of people, usually criminals" .)