Crossword Genius

Mechanism to eliminate sex crime? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

device

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'mechanism' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'eliminate sex crime?' is the wordplay.
'eliminate sex' becomes 'de' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'crime?' becomes 'vice' (vice crime is a kind of crime).
'de'+'vice'='DEVICE'

'to' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for device that I've seen before include "Plan - emblem" , "Contrivance; motto" , "Gadget, piece of apparatus" , "Scheme for achieving something, or a trick" , "Thing made or used for particular purpose" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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