It can have an arresting consequence (5)
I believe the answer is:
crime
'have an arresting consequence' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'it' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'it' could be 'e' ('e' can mean 'electronic' which is similar to 'IT') and 'e' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'crim' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'can' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for crime that I've seen before include "Misdeed" , "Legal offence" , "Killing, for example" , "they say it doesn't pay" , "Transgression of the law" .)