Relatively poor patrol in difficulty (12)

I believe the answer is:

proportional

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'relatively poor patrol in difficulty' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'relatively poor patrol in difficulty' is the wordplay.
'poor patrol in' anagrams to 'PROPORTIONAL'.
However, I am not clear how the anagram is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for proportional that I've seen before include "Commensurate" , "Corresponding in size" , "Balanced" , "relationship" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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