Townshend was the most famous and most experienced of the Bow Street Runners who is quoted in a study as being around in 1828

"23. This information was supplied in 1828 by
Townshend, the most famous and most experienced of the
Bow Street Runners (Fitzgerald 1888, 1, 128-29) ."

Dickens whose favorite song this was lived from 1812-1870

The new police however......
if that refers to the Metropolitain Police
took over the bow street runners in 1829....

I have not been able to find the dates for Townshend
It is possible that Townshend was around in 1837 and that he survived the merger of 1829....

Conrad