This first chapter of the Designing Out Crime manual, Using this Handbook, sets the scene for the chapters that follow. It begins with the core rationale that the handbook is not designed to be read from cover. Instead, readers are advised to dip into it to discover background detail that may be useful for a project on which they are working or have an interest. Thereafter, the Introduction discusses constituent headings including Crime Prevention/Reduction, Situational Crime Prevention, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), ‘elegant security’ and avoiding the charge of creating a ‘fortress environment.’ A history of Designing Out Crime then follows, after which a section is devoted to the different names used to describe this function. The chapter concludes with a discussion concerning the essential attributes necessary for a Designing Out Crime Officer (DOCO), Design for Security Consultant (DfSC) or CPTED Officer/Adviser.