The F2registration authority may at any time suspend for a specified period the registration of a person in respect of an establishment or agency F3....

Except where the F4registration authority gives notice under section 20B, the power conferred by subsection (1) is exercisable only on the ground that the establishment or agency is being, or has at any time been, carried on otherwise than in accordance with the relevant requirements.

The suspension of a person's registration does not affect the continuation of the registration (but see sections 24A and 26 as to offences).

A period of suspension may be extended under subsection (1) on one or more occasions.

Reference in this Part to the suspension of a person's registration is to suspension under this section, and related expressions are to be read accordingly.

In this section “relevant requirements” has the same meaning as in section 14.