Twenty-two (22) children are among several people removed from a religious institution in Montego Bay, St. James, this morning.

They were removed during a joint police/military operation.

A police source said the operation was driven by concerns about alleged offences at the institution.

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency CPFSA says the children are to appear before the court.

This is the second incident in recent years where children are being removed from the church compound.

In 2019, several children were removed from the facility after concerns emerged over their safety.

Citing that incident, children’s advocate, Diahann Gordon Harrison says her office had concerns about the situation at the religious institution.