Part of the tide of lawlessness? (5,4)
I believe the answer is:
crime wave
This clue might be a double definition.
'part' is the first definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'tide of lawlessness?' is the second definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to natural events as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'of the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for crime wave that I've seen before include "Sudden rise in illegal acts" , "Sharp rise in thefts etc." , "rise in vice" , "We arm vice (anag)" , "series of offences" .)