Police officer in bar following criminals (9)
I believe the answer is:
constable
'police officer' is the definition.
'bar following criminals' is the wordplay.
'bar' becomes 'table' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'following' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'criminals' becomes 'cons'.
'table' put after 'cons' is 'CONSTABLE'.
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for constable that I've seen before include "Bobby" , "Force member" , "Artist; police officer" , "Flatford Mill painter" , "Law enforcer" .)