Crossword Genius

Signal given by copper close to scene (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cue

'signal' is the definition.
(as in an actor's cue)

'by copper close to scene' is the wordplay.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'copper' becomes 'cu' (chemical symbol).
'close to' says to take the final letters (the close/ending of).
The final letter of 'scene' is 'e'.
'cu' next to 'e' is 'CUE'.

'given' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for cue that I've seen before include "Actor's line to remind another" , "strike" , "signal to come on" , "Used in snooker and on stage" , "Signal to begin - tapered stick" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Telegraph.
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