Deprive detectives and sheriffs' men at the start of spree (10)
I believe the answer is:
dispossess
'deprive' is the definition.
('dispossess' can be a synonym of 'deprive')
'detectives and sheriffs' men at the start of spree' is the wordplay.
'detectives' becomes 'dis' (Detective Inspectors, DIs).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'sheriffs' men' becomes 'posses' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'at the start of' says to take the initial letters (I've seen 'at the start' mean this).
The first letter of 'spree' is 's'.
'dis'+'posses'+'s'='DISPOSSESS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dispossess that I've seen before include "Deprive of land and property" , "Expel" , "Deprive (someone) of land/property" , "Drive out l" .)