Trafficking in persons, especially women and children for sexual purposes, is also an odious crime. Unfortunately, it is widespread and growing. Recent tragic experiences in this country show that we are not immune from being targeted in this respect by organised criminal gangs. Recent successful prosecutions abroad show also the value and the benefit of international co-operation in this area. The provisions of this Bill also interact with a number of the recommendations of the Patten report on policing in Northern Ireland.