Asylum seekers living in the community on bridging visas are about 45 times less likely to be charged with a crime than members of the general public.

Figures released to Fairfax Media by the department of immigration and citizenship show that since November 2011, 12,100 asylum seekers have been released into the community on bridging visas.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison. Credit:Edwina Pickles

A department spokeswoman said that ''a handful'' - or five or less - had been charged with a crime. This equates to just 41.32 people per 100,000 people.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has not compiled national crime figures for the 2011-12 financial year because New South Wales declined to provide the rates of young offenders to the ABS.