The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word CRIME
I've seen this crossword clue in The Sunday Telegraph
C
R
I
M
E
More clues leading to the result CRIME
- Retired military commander caught shoplifting, say
- Black Sea peninsula loses area in unlawful act
- Location of war not American wrongdoing
- Frost after cult’s leader for murder, perhaps
- Focus of Detective Frost?
- PC swap in Prime Suspect investigated for this
- Focus for Detective Frost?
- One usually requires the presence of a copper battery, say
- Killing, for example, in war zone endlessly
- Offence church found about the limit
Buddy explains!
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CRIME mean?
CRIME noun- A specific act committed in violation of the law.
- Any great sin or wickedness; iniquity.
- That which occasions crime.
- Criminal acts collectively.
- The habit or practice of committing crimes.
- To subject to disciplinary punishment.
- To commit crime(s).