Crossword Genius

Not a direct criminal slander (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

detraction

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

'not a direct criminal' is the wordplay.
'criminal' indicates anagramming the letters.
'not'+'a'+'direct'='notadirect'
'notadirect' with letters rearranged gives 'DETRACTION'.

(Other definitions for detraction that I've seen before include "Slander" , "Disparagement" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian and The Telegraph.
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