Stops in crooked side streets (7)
I believe the answer is:
desists
'stops' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'crooked side streets' is the wordplay.
'crooked' is an anagram indicator (a crooked or disrupted version of the letters).
'streets' becomes 'sts' (st is an abbreviation for street).
'side' with letters rearranged gives 'desi'.
'desi'+'sts'='DESISTS'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for desists that I've seen before include "Ceases" , "Stops, refrains from" .)