I prove criminal American gets a police record (8)

I believe the answer is:

'a police record' is the definition.
(someone with 'previous' has a police record)

'i prove criminal american' is the wordplay.
'criminal' is an anagram indicator.
'american' becomes 'us' (abbreviation for United States).
'i'+'prove'='iprove'
'iprove' is an anagram of 'previo'.
'previo'+'us'='PREVIOUS'

'gets' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for previous that I've seen before include "earlier convictions" , "Earlier, occasion say" , "Earlier, prior" , "Overhasty; existing earlier" , "Over-prompt or over-hasty" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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