Prison cartel encouraging action (8)
I believe the answer is:
stirring
'encouraging action' is the definition.
'stirring' can be an answer for 'action' (stirring is a kind of action). I am not sure about the 'encouraging' bit.
'prison cartel' is the wordplay.
'prison' becomes 'stir' (informal term for prison).
'cartel' becomes 'ring' (both can mean a criminal group).
'stir'+'ring'='STIRRING'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stirring that I've seen before include "Arousing strong feeling" , "Agitating a liquid" , "Inspiring" , "Moving" , "Rousing; mixing" .)