Move quickly past the copper! (5)

I believe the answer is:

bobby

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'copper' is the definition.
(I know that copper can be written as bobby)

'move quickly past' is the wordplay.
'move quickly' becomes 'bob' (bobbing is a kind of moving. I am not sure about the 'quickly' bit.).
'past' becomes 'by' (as in years gone by).
'bob'+'by'='BOBBY'

'the' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for bobby that I've seen before include "beat man" , "Peeler" , "- Moore, World Cup winning captain" , "-- Moore; -- Charlton (footballers)" , "Policeman; man's name" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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