Police escort learner initially follows on drive back (5)

I believe the answer is:

repel

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'drive back' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'police escort learner initially follows on' is the wordplay.
'police escort' becomes 'pe' (this could be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
'follows' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'on' becomes 're' (regarding).
The initial letter of 'learner' is 'l'.
'pe'+'l'='pel'
'pel' after 're' is 'REPEL'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for repel that I've seen before include "Turn away" , "Drive back or disgust" , "Drive back, rebuff" , "Spurn" , "give you the creeps" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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