Crossword Genius

Officer's hair alarms criminal (3,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

air marshal

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

'officer's' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'hair alarms criminal' is the wordplay.
'criminal' is an anagram indicator.
'hair'+'alarms'='hairalarms'
'hairalarms' with letters rearranged gives 'AIR-MARSHAL'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for air marshal that I've seen before include "RAF officer" , "Senior air force officer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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