| HOLDSWATER | Veteran military-like unit, handled by the woman, proves to be reliable (5,5) |
| ITDOESEXACTLY | Can claims prove to be reliable? Absolutely (2,4,7,4,2,4,2,3,3) |
| SWATTEAM | Military-like police unit who conduct quick raids in dangerous situations (4,4) |
| REDHERRING | Embarrassed by the woman's call diversion (3,7) |
| TASKMASTER | The teacher after a job proves to be a martinet (10) |
| PRECAUTION | Measure taken in case it proves to be necessary (10) |
| BALDERDASH | Less hairy run proves to be rubbish (10) |
| TRUSTY | Said to be reliable and you're under the weather after tea! (6) |
| SOLID | Thus the cover is seen to be reliable (5) |
| TESTED | Tried and ____, expression meaning 'proven in the past to be reliable' (6) |
| HANDSAWS | They work around the clock outside, witnessed by those handled by The Carpenters (8) |
| AUTHENTIC | Somehow teach unit to be reliable |
| NERVE | Cable-like unit that communicates impulses between the brain and other parts of the human body |
| LETSDOWN | Doesn't let up, but fails to be reliable (4,4) |
| LETS | Doesn't let up, but fails to be reliable (4,4) |
| DOWN | Doesn't let up, but fails to be reliable (4,4) |
| MOONSTONE | Name of the diamond in a 1868 novel by The Woman in White author Wilkie Collins; or, a gem in the feldspar group thought to bring good fortune (9) |
| COUNTEDON | An abacus was assumed to be reliable |
| TRUE | Proven to be reliable |
| TRIED | Proven to be reliable |
