Ne'er-do-well exposed following closure of British barracks (7)

I believe the answer is:

heckles

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'barracks' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

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I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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