effective policy tool, as more than 90% of resources are wasted on checks that did not lead to the detection of undocumented migrants or rejected asylum seekers.73 In addition, one should consider the indirect cost to society of so many police persons taken off their regular duties (of patrolling the streets and combatting organised crime - including armed robberies and other violent forms of crime - indeed a serious public issue in recent years in Greece) In 2013, the apprehensions completed within the context of Operation Xenios Zeus represented only 3,2% of all apprehensions of irregular migrants in Greece. Table 11. Apprehensions Xenios Zeus- Overall Apprehensions 2013 Period Apprehensions Zeus 2013 1,401 Xenios Overall apprehensions in Greece 43,002 Policy Recommendations 1. More comprehensive and accurate Data collection (to allow better evaluation of policies): If arrest is Greece's first pillar, in securing the return of irregular migrants to their countries of origins, it is important that more accurate data are kept to monitor the final outcome of its apprehension practices. 2. Investment in identification of forged documents: Under the current scheme, in the course of a round up operations all migrants are gathered together, transferred to the headquarters and their documents are checked there. Very often this procedure may take many hours, either because there is no bus available or simply because the number of persons rounded up is large and takes time to process. This is a time-consuming and inefficient practice for both the people checked and the migrants involved. More funds could be invested in forged documentation technology. 3. Appropriate training of police officers involved in such operations: The authorities should invest in screening and linguistic training so that identification becomes faster. This would cut down on the time of the operation and save resources which could be spent elsewhere (eg. regular police duties to combat criminality). 73 For a Parliamentary Discussion on Operation Xenios Zeus see http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/a08fc2dd-61a9-4a83-b09a-09f4c564609d/es20120927.pdf Page 37