Popular spot occupied by rogue is unsafe (8)
I believe the answer is:
insecure
'unsafe' is the definition.
('insecure' is associated in meaning with 'unsafe')
'popular spot occupied by rogue' is the wordplay.
'popular' becomes 'in'.
'spot' becomes 'see' (I've seen this before).
'occupied by' indicates putting letters inside.
'rogue' becomes 'cur' (I've seen this in other clues).
'see' going around 'cur' is 'secure'.
'in'+'secure'='INSECURE'
'is' is the link.
(Other definitions for insecure that I've seen before include "exposed to danger" , "Fearful, unsafe." , "safe? Hardly" , "Vulnerable" , "Defenceless" .)