Senate giving criminal something to take away? (8,4)

I believe the answer is:

negative sign

'something to take away?' is the definition.
(mathematical take-away sign)

'senate giving criminal' is the wordplay.
'criminal' indicates an anagram.
'senate'+'giving'='senategiving'
'senategiving' anagrammed gives 'NEGATIVE SIGN'.

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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