The UCP's platform on rural crime would make RCMP and Crown Prosecutors take a closer look at the offender and not the landowner if another situation like the one facing Okotoks Eddie Maurice arose.

UCP Leader Jason Kenney, says he'd like to see police and the Crown look harder at the motivating factors behind why a criminal is on private land in the first place in cases of self defence.

The President of the Foothills Rural Crime Watch Association, Don Larson, says Kenney has some leeway provincially, even though the legal areas are controlled federally.

"As I'm reading what he's saying the instruction will come from the Provincial Crown in order to make sure that that defence is paid attention to if any of these issues come up again in our provincial courts."

Kenney's plan would have both the police and the Crown look at circumstances like proximity to police and whether they thought an intruder was on drugs, which could be mitigating factors in charging a landowner like was done to Maurice.

Larson, says it's not unreasonable.

"If you get into a situation similar to what Eddie (Maurice) faced, you're probably looking at the likelihood of being charged. Not withstanding the fact you're probably going to be charged that a whole lot more credence is going to be given to the self defence argument on the part of the Crown."

Larson is also applauding Kenney's promise to spend millions on more police resources and new Crown Prosecutors to help clear a backlog of cases.