First refugees head for Croatia after Hungary's border crackdown

A Royal Navy warship is to be deployed to tackle people smugglers in the Mediterranean Sea in what the defence minister described as a “next phase” in the UK’s response to the migration crisis. PA reports:

HMS Richmond could be sent to the waters of the coast of Libya to stop the human traffickers who are risking the lives of refugees by taking them on the perilous journey to Europe by boat.
More than 2,000 people have died trying to make the crossing so far this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration, and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the crisis must be tackled “at source”.
The navy’s HMS Enterprise is already stationed in the Mediterranean and the offer of another frigate to go after criminals will be officially made at an EU force generation conference later today.
While HMS Richmond, which has a special surveillance system allowing it to cover vast areas, will be able to help in search and rescue missions, its primary role will be to board and seize vessels in the southern Mediterranean, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
Fallon said: “The Royal Navy has rescued thousands of people from peril but we’ve been clear we have to tackle the gangs behind this, which is why it’s important the mission moves to the next phase.”

The ship will be used to board and search refugee boats, according to the Guardian’s home affairs editor Alan Travis.