People known for their distance apart? (5)

I believe the answer is:

poles

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'people' is the definition.
The answer is an example.

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for poles that I've seen before include "Rods of wood or metal" , "Nationality of citizens of Warsaw" , "People from Warsaw?" , "East Europeans" , "Extremities of the earth's axis" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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