(1)A police and crime panel may suspend the relevant police and crime commissioner if it appears to the panel that—
(a)the commissioner has been charged in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man with an offence, and
(b)the offence is one which carries a maximum term of imprisonment exceeding two years.
(2)The suspension of the police and crime commissioner ceases to have effect upon the occurrence of the earliest of these events—
(a)the charge being dropped;
(b)the police and crime commissioner being acquitted of the offence;
(c)the police and crime commissioner being convicted of the offence but not being disqualified under section 66 by virtue of the conviction;
(d)the termination of the suspension by the police and crime panel.
(3)For the purposes of salary, pensions and allowances in respect of times during a period of suspension, the police and crime commissioner is to be treated as not holding that office during that suspension.
(4)In this section references to an offence which carries a maximum term of imprisonment exceeding two years are references—
(a)to an offence which carries such a maximum term in the case of a person who has attained the age of 18 years, or
(b)to an offence for which, in the case of such a person, the sentence is fixed by law as life imprisonment.