For many residents of the Paradise Gardens community, the intervention was long overdue.

The children, who are between one and 17 years old, were taken before the St James Family Court on Wednesday as the authorities moved to protect them. The police also reportedly detained a number of adults from the facility during the early-morning operation.

Commanding officer for the Area One Police Assistant Commissioner Clifford Chambers said there were reports that a number of infractions — as outlined under Section 11 of the Child Care and Protection Act — are suspected to have taken place at the compound.

"They are being forced into marriage once they get to the age of 16. And they are being humiliated; so the girls' heads are shaved if there were any issues," he said on Wednesday afternoon.

He added that there have also been reports that formal education has been withheld from school-aged children and youngsters were being housed in a communal living space that is not conducive to their well-being.

Residents eagerly shared their concerns about the facility that has often attracted negative attention to the area. Most of them chose not to provide their names.

One woman said she has long been concerned about how the young girls there interact with older men.

"I always see the kids, like maybe 10- or 12-year-olds, passing with some gentlemen. And they are holding them like they are their wives. I would always [ask] myself why the authorities don't step in to see what is going on down there," she said.

She also expressed concern about sanitation at the compound, saying frequent scenes of children fetching water from a nearby pipe appeared to indicate there might be no running water inside.

For area resident James Montague, Wednesday's intervention by the police, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), and supporting agencies was long overdue.

"It is full time that somebody takes care of the children that are over there," he said.

He said he has long viewed the establishment with suspicion after what appeared to be a power struggle there.