CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Be sent to prison at unfortunate rate and be very welcome (2,4,1,5) 8 British Legion attitude to Scottish battlefield (5) 9 Are these weapons used when you go in front of a ship? (9) 11 Veiled criticism, this with faint praise is indirect, not mad (2,4) 12 Hallo! Here’s a tricky situation (3,3,2) 14 Being beyond this doubt is enough to convict concerning a boy who is competent (10) 15 Release from custody secured with bucket (4) 18 It’s not British to take umbrage, being laid off (4) 19 Desire nice resolution to penultimate stage of divorce (6,4) 21 Will shortly be seen in confining dusk (8) 23 He opts out of cheering assembly to flinch with disgust (6) 25 Madge lied about being in the prime of life (6,3) 26 Not infrequently, proof tends to be revealing (5) 27 Opening in rock swallowed member at hill _ buyer beware! (6,6)

DOWN

1 Complaint of warder at barrier erected to prevent accidents (5,4) 2 Shoot over living space in prison (8) 3 West African company where Davidian tragedy took place (4) 4 An obvious consequence of a “collar” allowing for alternative with hostel to follow (1,9) 5 Over-ride opponents as to legalese for “live” at ... (6) 6 ... home where a person has last chance (5) 7 Judge’s passing remark addressed to savage dog perhaps, as mut(t)’s brought back by detectives (6,6) 10 Where to sit out bird with original sinners as informers (5,7) 13 Valentine card probably will be lenient (4,1,5) 16 He has the right to dispose of property that ran to damage after a falsehood (9) 17 Acts in corroboration but arose fortuitously (5,3) 20 Grinding machinery that is thoroughly modern, perhaps (6) 22 Hindu god returns from a hard night (5) 24 Length of sentence met reversion about right (4)