Patel is disastrously wrong in nearly every way:
Lack of public compliance is NOT the problem: by and large people ARE complying and the areas where they are not are more due to practical barriers than lack of motivation. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/12/patel-says-covid-rules-tough-enough-despite-another-1243-deaths?CMP=share_btn_tw

Blaming the public only serves to divide us from the government and so undermine trust and compliance. Moreover it implies violation is more widespread than is the case, so creating a negative norm and thereby further undermining compliance.

The real problem is not that people are 'flexing the rules but that the rules are too flexible, meaning that tradespeople and cleaners can go in and out of our houses and up to 60% of people have no option but to go to work.

And harsh enforcement only makes a dire policy still worse. It is ineffective, undermining consent and further alienating the public. Certainly use enforcement as a last resort, but engaging explaining and encouraging the public works far better.

All in all, if you wanted to design the worst possible approach, destroy the possibility of a partnership between public and government in fighting the pandemic, this would be it. It is the perfect anti-policy and only the virus will benefit from it.