THE GOVERNMENT’s decision to bail out failing private probation companies again was branded “disgusting” and dismissed as “throwing good money after bad”, by unions, MPs and charities today.

Former justice secretary Chris Grayling’s shambolic Transforming Rehabilitation privatisation agenda set up 21 community rehabilitation companies (CRCs) to manage low-risk offenders, despite widespread opposition to the plans.

The contracts, signed in 2014, were due to run until 2022, but Mr Grayling’s successor David Gauke has announced that the government’s contracts with eight CRCs will end two years early.