The standard response time that the IPCC pledges for monitoring of complaints is measured from the date of receipt of CAPO's final investigation reports.

Monitoring of complaints against the Police is not just a review of documents and materials. It involves critical analysis and active probing with a view to finding out the truth. For very serious and complicated cases, the process may involve the setting up of special review panels, the interviewing of witnesses by IPCC Members and the seeking of medical and/or legal advice where necessary. This may necessitate numerous rounds of queries with CAPO or even re-investigation by CAPO. Depending on the complexity of individual cases and the outcome of re-investigation, the monitoring process might take longer time in some cases.