Of barriers to acts of law-breaking (8)
I believe the answer is:
offences
'acts of law-breaking' is the definition.
'offences' can be an answer for 'acts' (offence is a kind of act). I am not certain of the 'of law-breaking' bit.
'of barriers' is the wordplay.
'barriers' becomes 'fences' (fence is a kind of barrier).
'of'+'fences'='OFFENCES'
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for offences that I've seen before include "Illegal acts, breakings of the law" , "Crimes" , "Misdemeanours" , "Trespasses" , "Breaches of the law" .)