Crossword Genius

Policeman dispatched without right equipment endlessly (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sergeant

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

'policeman' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'dispatched without right equipment endlessly' is the wordplay.
'dispatched' becomes 'sent' (I've seen this in another clue).
'without' indicates putting letters inside ('without' can be similar in meaning to 'outside').
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'equipment endlessly' becomes 'gea' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'r'+'gea'='rgea'
'sent' enclosing 'rgea' is 'SERGEANT'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sergeant that I've seen before include "NCO; Death a fell one, Hamlet" , "Troy" , "Estrange (anag)" , "Reagents for army NCO" , "Soldier and lover in Hardy novel" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app