Crossword Genius

Measure used by the police once more (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

metre

'measure' is the definition.
(I know that measure can be written as metre)

'by the police once more' is the wordplay.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'the police' becomes 'met' (London Metropolitan Police).
'once more' becomes 're' (prefix in words like 're-emerge' or 're-enter').
'met'+'re' is 'METRE'.

'used' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for metre that I've seen before include "measure of length" , "39.37 inches" , "Approx 39 inches" , "Approx. thirty nine point three seven inches" , "determined by scanning" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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