Spice up routine crime, perhaps (8)
I believe the answer is:
turmeric
'spice' is the definition.
(type of spice)
'up routine crime perhaps' is the wordplay.
'up' is a reversal indicator (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'routine' becomes 'rut' (being stuck in a rut is being stuck in a routine).
'perhaps' indicates anagramming the letters.
'rut' backwards is 'tur'.
'crime' with letters rearranged gives 'meric'.
'tur'+'meric'='TURMERIC'
(Other definitions for turmeric that I've seen before include "Yellow spice used in curry" , "Condiment that dyes yellow" , "kitchen ingredient" , "Bright yellow spice" , "'Bright yellow powder, used in curry (8)'" .)