Former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Palmer has challenged his NSW counterpart Mick Fuller to publicly debate him over the use of strip searches, saying the latter's recent comments on police powers were "frightening".

It comes as a fresh law enforcement inquiry will be launched next month over claims officers illegally strip searched several minors at an under-18s Sydney music festival this year - the latest in a string of allegations of police abusing their search powers.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller. Credit:AAP

Following the drug-related deaths of six people at music festivals, Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame recommended introducing pill testing and rolling back policing at festivals. This prompted NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to reaffirm her opposition to drug testing and Mr Fuller to defend his officers' reputations.

Mr Fuller told the Daily Telegraph this week that curtailing police powers could result in a rise in knife crime, saying there would be a "generation of kids that have no respect for authority".