Lip from criminal (3)
I believe the answer is:
rim
'lip' is the definition.
(I know that lip can be written as rim)
'from criminal' is the wordplay.
'from' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'RIM' is hidden within 'criminal'.
(Other definitions for rim that I've seen before include "Circumference" , "Brink" , "Brim, edge" , "Curved edge" , "Edge, border" .)