Signal encouragement for criminal behaviour (6)
I believe the answer is:
beacon
'signal encouragement for criminal behaviour' is the definition.
I know that 'signal' relates to this answer.
'signal encouragement for criminal' is the wordplay.
'signal encouragement for' becomes 'bea' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'criminal' becomes 'con' (short for convict).
'bea'+'con'='BEACON'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for beacon that I've seen before include "Signal fire - signalling buoy" , "Guiding light?" , "Fire on a hill, lit as a signal" , "Guiding device - signal fire" , "warning to others" .)