Crossword Genius

Impasse with man arresting criminal don (5,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stand-off

'impasse' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'man arresting criminal don' is the subsidiary indication.
'man' becomes 'staff' (both can mean to work at a particular post**).
'arresting' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'criminal' indicates anagramming the letters.
'don' with letters rearranged gives 'ndo'.
'staff' enclosing 'ndo' is 'standoff'.

'with' is the link.

(Other definitions for stand-off that I've seen before include "Rugby halfback" , "Remain at a distance - while on feet?" , "Deadlock between equal opponents" , "Impasse" , "Deadlock between equally matched opponents" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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