One embracing criminal secretly (6-6)

I believe the answer is:

hugger-mugger

'secretly' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'one embracing criminal' is the wordplay.
'one embracing' becomes 'hugger' (someone who hugs).
'criminal' becomes 'mugger' (mugger is a kind of criminal).
'hugger'+'mugger'='HUGGER-MUGGER'

(Other definitions for hugger-mugger that I've seen before include "(In) confusion" , "In utter disorder - in secret" , "In secret - disorderly ..." .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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